The Pont du Gard is probably built by emperor Auguste and was part of a waterworks of nearly 50 km in length; it brought water of the springs near Uzès (Source d'Eure) to the Roman city of Nemausus (the nowadays Nîmes). The whole aqueduct had an angle of 34 cm/km. The Pont was built to lead the water over the river Gardon (and was at that point 48 m high). More than 20.000 m3 water per day flowed to Nîmes.

 It was built without using mortar, everything was held in place by iron "clasps". After the 4th century maintenance was less strict. In the 9th century the aqueduct was no longer serviceable, caused by the debris and mess in the canal. People took away stones for use of their own. A large part of the aqueduct remained in tact though. Since the middle ages, till the 18th century the Pont has been used as a bridge only. In the 20th and the 19th century the Pont has been restored; it was and still is a touristic attraction. In 1985 it was added to the World Heritage List of the UNESCO.