Sous le pont! We've wanted to go canoeing ever since we were unable to canoe on the Dordogne River back in May. The travel books mentioned that the best way to see the Pont du Gard was from the water beneath it so we rented canoes from Canoë Collias, upstream on the Gard River, a model they describe as the Canadia - it has a general shape of a Canadian canoe but with formed plastic seating, comfortable and virtually indestructible. We spent the next three hours leisurely paddling down the river, stopping for a picnic lunch and swimming in places. The first views you get of the Pont du Gard are quite exciting.
It was built almost 2000 years ago, in 19 BC, by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, the son-in-law of Augustus. A road bridge was added in 1743, and was used until 1996. It is always amazing when you see these structures how they survive the test of time, and in this case river floods. After canoeing we stopped to pick up cherries and melons, it is the season here, and I believe they will never taste the same when we return home. Another perfect day in France.
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| Departure at Collias (43°57'17.5"N, 4°29'03.1"E) |
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| Pont du Gard (43°56'50.7"N, 4°32'06.2"E) |
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