We haven't posted a Wednesdays in France for a few weeks - Why did I hear you say?
Well, yes there is an excuse - I've lost a heap of photos. Don't know how it all happened, so I'll use some from the internet. Later in this particular trip, the photos will return.
We missed both Nimes and the Pont du Gard on our 2006 visit to the the South of France. Firstly I was wary of driving the car in the big cities and secondly, we were on a schedule to arrive in Saint Chinian.
Not this time. I was a lot braver in the car and we had this whole week to float to wherever we wanted.
Pont du Gard was most definitely on the list as was Uzes and Orange. We had no idea at the time that the Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct covered a distance of 50 kms from Uzes to Nimes. When you consider in what time frame it was built, you find as you walk towards this amazing structure, you ask yourself - how can this be?
Initially you arrive at the entry gates and park your car a little distance from the Pont du Gard passing firstly through the souvenir stores, cafes and the museum. The museum is well worth the time to discover its history.
Wikipedia
The Pont du Gard is a notable ancient Roman aqueduct bridge that crosses the Gard River in southern France. It is part of a 50 km (31 mi) long aqueduct that runs between Uzès and Nîmes in the South of France. It is located in Vers-Pont-du-Gard near Remoulins, in the Gard département. The aqueduct was constructed by the Romans in the 1st century AD and was added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1985. It is the highest of all Roman aqueduct bridges and is the best preserved after the Aqueduct of Segovia.
I remember as we walked towards the Pont du Gard, we passed an olive tree with some age on it. We heard a couple say, "I've eaten olives from the tree before, I don't like them." Hmmmmm!!!!
We love them - yes but not from the tree.
The Pont du Gard has graffitti - this graffitti is chisled into the rock during the 1700s by students of architecture. I took photos of this but alas, I can't find them any longer.
We left the Pont du Gard, totally enthralled before driving to Uzes for lunch. The old city is a feeling of calm. One could imagine market day here. It was slightly balmy while a cloud of drizzle fell. We had lunch, one that looked great but Sue being the culinary snob that she is (hope she doesn't read this) thought it was average.
I don't remember what I ate but I do remember the ambiance of the area. Not a great amount of people about and sometimes I wonder whether we have some influence on that.
Eventually we found ouselves travelling to Orange to see the Roman Amphitheatre. How many of these structures litter Europe. We've seen similar structures in Autun, Lyon, and Arles. What did the Romans ever do for us, I remember that line from "the Life of Brian", do you? Monty Python at it's best.
Our week was coming to an end in Saint Remy de Provence before we travelled back to the Languedoc.
Well, yes there is an excuse - I've lost a heap of photos. Don't know how it all happened, so I'll use some from the internet. Later in this particular trip, the photos will return.
We missed both Nimes and the Pont du Gard on our 2006 visit to the the South of France. Firstly I was wary of driving the car in the big cities and secondly, we were on a schedule to arrive in Saint Chinian.
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| Painting by Hubert Robert 1787 |
Pont du Gard was most definitely on the list as was Uzes and Orange. We had no idea at the time that the Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct covered a distance of 50 kms from Uzes to Nimes. When you consider in what time frame it was built, you find as you walk towards this amazing structure, you ask yourself - how can this be?
Initially you arrive at the entry gates and park your car a little distance from the Pont du Gard passing firstly through the souvenir stores, cafes and the museum. The museum is well worth the time to discover its history.
Wikipedia
The Pont du Gard is a notable ancient Roman aqueduct bridge that crosses the Gard River in southern France. It is part of a 50 km (31 mi) long aqueduct that runs between Uzès and Nîmes in the South of France. It is located in Vers-Pont-du-Gard near Remoulins, in the Gard département. The aqueduct was constructed by the Romans in the 1st century AD and was added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1985. It is the highest of all Roman aqueduct bridges and is the best preserved after the Aqueduct of Segovia.
I remember as we walked towards the Pont du Gard, we passed an olive tree with some age on it. We heard a couple say, "I've eaten olives from the tree before, I don't like them." Hmmmmm!!!!
We love them - yes but not from the tree.
We left the Pont du Gard, totally enthralled before driving to Uzes for lunch. The old city is a feeling of calm. One could imagine market day here. It was slightly balmy while a cloud of drizzle fell. We had lunch, one that looked great but Sue being the culinary snob that she is (hope she doesn't read this) thought it was average.
I don't remember what I ate but I do remember the ambiance of the area. Not a great amount of people about and sometimes I wonder whether we have some influence on that.
Eventually we found ouselves travelling to Orange to see the Roman Amphitheatre. How many of these structures litter Europe. We've seen similar structures in Autun, Lyon, and Arles. What did the Romans ever do for us, I remember that line from "the Life of Brian", do you? Monty Python at it's best.
Our week was coming to an end in Saint Remy de Provence before we travelled back to the Languedoc.
I am always surprised by the number of people that I come across that think olives can be eaten straight from the tree. :)
ReplyDeleteAnother place to put on our 'to visit' list. Yes I agree with Lindy, it amazes me how people think they can eat olives straight from the tree! Diane
ReplyDeleteI have never been to Pont-du-Gard, though I have been in the area.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite olives are Kalamatas and the little lucques ones; The Niçoises are not bad either.
How about that - I write about the Pont du Gard and you all tell me about olives.
ReplyDeleteWell, I can tell you that Sue always has some in the fridge and I keep stealing them from time to time. But only when I open the fridge door.
Ken and I went to the Pont du Gard in 1989. Back then, people were allowed to walk across, on top. We were inside the box where the water ran and also on the very top. No rails, nothing to stop one from tumbling over. They've stopped letting people up there now. But I have photos from the olden days to reminds us!
ReplyDeleteWe have spent several holidays in that part of France but seem to have somehow missed the Pont du Gard. Thanks for bringing it to our attention!
ReplyDeleteI just read these Walt and Jean.
ReplyDeleteWalt - was that back when we all had common sense????
Jean, Go there.