Maintenon (Eure-et-Loir)

Vauban, the official engineer of Louis XIV, would construct his first domestic project, an ambitious aqueduct to feed water from the Eure river to the fountains of Versailles. It began in 1684 and ended in 1688, when a new war commenced. The project was abandoned because of the decease and shortage of money. It was originally meant to have three tiers instead of one. 47 arches, standing some 28 meters high had been built. Many of these have been destroyed since then (stones are to be found in houses and even in a castle built by Louis XV for his mistress). Drawings of the original aqueduct are still to be seen inside the Château de Maintenon today.

More information, in French, on this aqueduct is to be found at Tchorski and the townhall ( Mairie ). Please find herewith some pictures taken in August 2008 and a wonderful picture taken from the air with the castle as a background.

Marseille

Water of the canal of Marseille (Durance) flows over the aqueduct of Roquefavour. The city of Marseille gave the order to built the aqueduct in 1834 to withstand deadly droughts.

Frantz Mayor de Montricher realised this magnificent construction, inspired by the Pont du Gard, between 1842 and 1847. It is the biggest stone aqueduct in the world.

Details: three levels with arches, 400 m long and 83 m high.
At ground level huge plane trees can be seen.