Aqueduct of Maintenon

The Aqueduct of Maintenon is a stone structure spanning roughly 950 meters with multiple tiers of arches that rise about 28 meters above the ground. The lowest row contains 47 arches, with additional rows stacked above to distribute weight and increase water-carrying capacity across the valley.

Military engineer Vauban designed this structure in 1685 as part of an ambitious plan to bring water from the Eure River to Versailles and its gardens. The construction reflected the scale of ambition characteristic of French royal engineering projects of that era.

The aqueduct stands as a testament to French engineering ambition and serves as a gathering spot where visitors experience the scale of 17th-century construction methods. Walking beneath and around the arches, people can observe how such a massive water system shaped the region's relationship with infrastructure and resource management.

The site is accessible on foot from Maintenon and allows visitors to walk through and around the structure to view it from different angles and distances. Exploring from ground level or nearby fields provides the clearest views of how the arches are arranged and support the water channel above.

The structure was originally intended to extend much further toward Versailles, but the project was never completed as initially envisioned. What visitors see today is just a portion of a far larger ambition that remained unfinished for centuries.

Location: Maintenon

Inception: 1686

Height: 28.5 m

Length: 955 m

Made from material: stone

Part of: Canal de l'Eure, Maintenon Castle

GPS coordinates: 48.58304,1.58622

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:43