Pont du Gard

Pont du Gard is a Roman aqueduct that crosses the Gardon River. It is one of the best preserved aqueducts and part of the Nîmes aqueduct, a 50-kilometre system built in the first century AD to carry water from a spring at Uzès to Nîmes, a Roman colony named Nemausus.

After the Roman Empire collapsed, the aqueduct fell into disuse. The Pont du Gard remained largely intact, due to the importance of its secondary function. It was used as a toll bridge, so for centuries the local lords and bishops were responsible for its upkeep.

Starting in the 18th century the Pont du Gard became a tourist destination. Today it is one of France's most popular tourist attractions with about 1.4 million visitors per year, who all take photos...

For centuries, Pont du Gard was a huge, unattended structure, so it is no surprise, that it is covered by graffiti. Most date from the 19th century, when tourists came here, and "left" names and dates. Here are three, that may have been carved by travelling smiths or roofers, as both guilds used a hammer as their symbol.

In medieval times the "journeymen" had to travel - and learn for years, before they were allowed to settle down. Some such guilds still exist.

"Die Freien Vogtländer" is a German guild

www.freie-vogtlaender.eu/de/

This guild is a member of the

"Conféderation Compagnonnages Europäische Gesellenzünfte"

cceg.eu/?lang=en