Aqueducts of Arcueil and Cachan

The aqueducts of Arcueil and Cachan form a monumental water system built from stone with multiple tiers of arches stacked upon each other to cross a valley. The structure rises significantly above the ground and stretches across the landscape with numerous arches supporting the flow of water.

The project started in the 17th century when a queen commissioned the construction of a stone aqueduct to supply water to a royal palace complex in Paris. The work took many years and demonstrated the technical capabilities of that era.

The water system reflects centuries of engineering solutions for moving water across valleys, shaping how Paris developed and grew. Visitors can observe how this infrastructure became woven into the landscape and daily life of the surrounding towns.

The structure can be viewed from multiple angles since it stretches across the landscape and is accessible from nearby paths and roads. Wearing comfortable shoes is wise since exploring the site involves walking on uneven ground in places.

Workers digging for the stone aqueduct uncovered remains of a much older Roman water system buried beneath the earth. This revealed that moving water over long distances had been practiced in this region since ancient times.