Hikes Monuments
Pont du Gard is a bridge-aqueduct built by the Romans in the 1st century of our era. It is exceptional in its size since with its 49 meters high, it is the highest Roman aqueduct bridge in the world.
It is composed of 3 rows of superimposed arches (6 arches at the 1st level, 11 arches at the second level and 47 arches at the origin), which is also a rarity achievement for the time. It is finally remarkable because of its excellent state of preservation, it is the only example of antique bridge with 3 floors still standing today. Nearly a thousand men worked on this colossal site completed in just 5 years.
The Arena of Nîmes perfectly illustrate the degree of perfection achieved by Roman engineers for the design and construction of this type of building. Oval shaped, the Arena is 133 meters long and 101 wide.
Measuring 21 meters high, its exterior facade is 2 floors and sixty superimposed arches.
There are larger Roman amphitheatres, but it is the best preserved of all.
In Roman times, the monument could accommodate 24,000 spectators.
The amphitheater’s design provided everyone with an overview of the track.
Inspired by the temples of Apollo and Mars Ultor in Rome,
The Carrée house seduced by the harmony of its proportions. The only temple in the ancient world is completely preserved, the Maison Carrée is 26 meters long by 15 meters wide and 17 meters high.
The ceiling of the entrance to the temple dates from the early nineteenth century and the current door was completed in 1824.
The Maison Carrée owes its exceptional state of conservation to uninterrupted use since the Xth century, it has been in turn consular house, stable, apartment, church. After the French Revolution, it became the seat of the first prefecture of Gard, then converted into departmental archives.
The Magne Tower, that is to say, the great tower, is the only vestige of the ancient Augustine enclosure. It stands on the highest point of the city, the Mount Cavalier, dominates all the plain and draws towards it the lines of communication.
Originally, it is an oval tower in dry stone from a height of 18 meters, integrated into a rampart. At once a prestigious building and a strategic element, it marked the presence of the sanctuary and protected the oppidum. By doubling its height and integrating it into the enclosure, Auguste marks the new power of the colony of Nimes on the city of Volques.
When the city abandons the heights, the Magne Tower continues to play a military role. It is used for defense against the English during the Hundred Years War.
Pont d’Avignon: A major witness to the history of Avignon, the Pont d’Avignon is one of the most famous monuments in the world thanks to its song sung by children of all countries.
But if the notoriety of this bridge is famous, its history is little known.
Only four arches remain on the 22 of its origin. The first work of the bridge dates back to the 12th century. It was damaged several times and rebuilt following wars and floods of the Rhone.
The Palace of the Popes built from 1335, in less than 20 years, it is the work mainly of two popes builders, Benedict XII and his successor Clement VI.
Avignon presents a grandiose urban landscape, dominating the city and the Rhone, the rock of the Doms offers an exceptional monumental set consisting of the Pont saint Bénezet, the Remparts, the Petit Palais, the Cathedral of the Doms and impressive walls flanked by four gigantic towers of Palace of the Popes.
This unique architectural ensemble is listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Site.
Duchy of Uzes: The first Uzetians took their neighborhood around the source of Eure.
From the fifth century, Uzès experienced a strong expansion and, until the early nineteenth century, houses a powerful bishopric that will include nearly 200 parishes. City strongly protestant, the city took part for the Reformation of France and was very tested by the wars of religions, many churches were destroyed. This was the case of the St. Theodorit Cathedral rebuilt in 1632. The Fenestrelle tower dating from the twelfth century remains one of the most symbolic images of the city.
In the sixteenth century, the Count de Crussols became duke and in 1632, Uzès became the first duchy of France. Symbol of the city, the castle (still inhabited by the family of Crussols) harmoniously combines the architecture and ornamentation of different currents of the history of France: millennial cellars, feudal tower (tower of Bermonde, the King and the Bishopric), ramparts, Renaissance facade where Ionic, Doric and Corinthian elements mix, facade of the eighteenth … The apartments contain an interesting collection of furniture and trinkets. Finally, from the top of the Bermonde Tower, you can admire a magnificent panorama of Uzège.