Aqueduct of Luynes, Luynes, France

The Luynes aqueduct is a former Gallo-Roman bridge aqueduct located in Luynes, France. The remains show a stack of five arches and it is the most famous Roman monument in the Department of Indre-et-Loire, despite its modest dimensions. It is also one of the best preserved of the Northern aqueducts. It was classified a historical monument in 1862 and is owned by the town of Luynes.

It originally had a total length of 1,825 metres, almost in a straight line, including 525 metres of raised causeway. Its underground portion, and in particular its final journey, passes the hamlet of Villeronde. Only a portion of the aqueduct-bridge is now visible as it passes through the Valley of the Arennes.

The actual channel for the water is masonry and not a lead or terracotta piping and has a slope of 1.5 cm to 2.9 m per kilometre. The maximum height of the arches of the aqueduct is 8.90 m.

History

The remains of the aqueduct-bridge are located 1.5 km northeast of the centre of Luynes, in Indre-et-Loire. It has a general orientation of north-northeast to south-southwest, taking water from the now dry Pie Noire, and is believed to have supplied water to ancient Luynes, or even Caesarodunum.

It has been conjectured, however, that the aqueduct was privately owned and serviced the complex of private villas at Sainte-Roselle. Its construction has not yet been dated with certainty; the construction style would indicate the 2nd or 3rd century, like the resort that it fed.

It remained in use until the 12th or 13th century and has been the subject of several repair campaigns, especially at the beginning of the 10th century, under Charles the Simple, which is why it has survived so well, even if number of stones of its collapsed batteries had to be recovered and used. This suggests that its use has changed throughout this period, despite the abandonment of the seaside resort of Sainte-Roselle.

References:

Wikipedia

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Simon Conway (2 years ago)
Toke some finding but we'll worth the effort

Erik Hoving (3 years ago)
Amazing to see such an old engineering relic, in middle of the country

Marcin Kwiatkowski (3 years ago)
Near the aqueduct there is a bench to sit The guide board in French

Iris L. (3 years ago)
Nice and worth visiting to have somethingdifferent from all the castles ;-). Nearby a lovely small town with historic market hall and a great restaurant for lunch or dinner.

Pieter Troost (4 years ago)
The Luynes aqueduct is a former Gallo-Roman bridge aqueduct located in Luynes, France.

Aqueduct of Luynes

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