Marseille to Avignon and Pont du Gard: Private day trip

Inhabited since the Neolithic period, this ancient city’s name was recorded for the first time in the 6th century BC when a fortified Greek settlement was built on top of the rocky outcrop overlooking the river. In 1309 Pope Clement V selected the city as his residence, and for the next several decades it would be the capital of all of Christendom, receiving a bounty of rich architecture, including the Palace of the Popes - the largest Gothic palace in Europe. Now a UNESCO site, within the castle’s 18 foot thick walls, visitors can enjoy exploring staterooms, chapels, cloisters, and frescoed papal apartments. The city’s other UNESCO monument is the "Pont d'Avignon", of nursery-rhyme fame, the remains of a 14th century bridge. On top of the UNESCO sites, the city’s bounty of opulent churches, majestic palaces, and scenic streets make it hard for many visitors to pull themselves away.

In the 1st century AD, the burgeoning city of Nemausus (modern day Nîmes) was facing a growing water shortage, so the Romans had to build an aqueduct from Fontaine d'Eure 20 km away. The result was a winding, 50km long structure that descended 2.5 cm in 456 m, with variations in the slope because a constant gradient would have required the Pont du Gard be higher than they could feasibly build it. It served as an aqueduct until the 6th century before becoming a tollgate in the Middle Ages, and was used as a bridge from the 18th to 20th century. A massive project in started in 2000 cleared any construction from the surrounding area, putting the Pont du Gard back in its original setting. Along with seeing the monument, visitors also have access to a museum covering the aqueduct’s construction, and several other exhibitions relating to the area’s history. Before booking your visit, please check the site’s hours at http://www.pontdugard.fr/en/practical-information