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Aqueduc Romain de Barbegal, Fontvieille
The remains of the Barbegal Roman aqueducts & watermills
The Alpilles mountains to the north east of Arles provided the Romans with a great source of water and to be able to channel it to the city they created a wide network of aqueducts.
Around 60 kilometres of aqueducts were built, feeding water down towards the city with the main northerly and southerly aqueducts converging on a place called Barbegal.
At this point a series of watermills were built for the production of flour. In the 1st & 2nd centuries AD this must have been a world leading piece of technology, with 16 mills in 8 pairs running down the hillside, churning water turning the wheels of a large number of mills used for flour production.
The mill complex was in use for around two hundred years and produced enough flour to supply the whole or Arles, or Arelate as it was known in Roman times.
Today there are lots of ruins of the aqueduct system to be seen as well as the partly overgrown site of the flour mills. It's a great place to wander around and try to imagine what it would have looked like when it was all still in use.
Visitor comments
- "A nice stroll alongside this ancient aqueduct, although there isn't a lot to see just the knowledge it's been there so long and trying to imagine the engineering that was required to create it make it worth while. Fabulous views across the valley at the far end." - Trip Advisor
- "Ruins of a Roman aqueduct that you can follow on a short walk to where it opens up into a stunning valley view. I would say, if you like a bit of architecture, then this is worth a stop off as it is not overrun with tourists, and is somewhere you could have a nice amble. The ruins are awe-inspiring" - Trip Advisor
- "This aqueduct was only a few miles from our bed & breakfast. We were driving back from Arles and saw the Roman Ruins road sign and turned in that direction. At the edge of a farm, there is a long aqueduct heading in both directions. We parked the car and walked under the stone arch and along the aqueduct. Great experience." - Trip Advisor
