Aqueduc de Roquefavour, Stone aqueduct in Ventabren near Aix-en-Provence, France
The Roquefavour Aqueduct extends 393 meters across the Arc valley, rising 82.65 meters high with three levels of arches built entirely from local stone blocks.
Construction began in 1841 under engineer Jean François Mayor de Montricher, employing 5,000 workers to transport 15-ton stone blocks from Velaux quarries via dedicated railway tracks.
The name Roquefavour comes from the Provençal Ròcafavor, the rocky site the aqueduct crosses. Its rough-faced stonework was left unfinished to save on cutting costs, so the blocks protrude and cast shadows that outline the structure. Alphonse de Lamartine called it a wonder of the world, and it is linked to the Palais Longchamp, built in Marseille to celebrate the arrival of the Durance water.
The aqueduct is reached via the D64 road in Ventabren, near Aix-en-Provence. It spans the Arc valley, crossing the river, the Aix-en-Provence to Berre road and the Aix-Rognac railway line, so the arches can be seen from below along these routes. The TGV Méditerranée line passes less than a kilometre to the east on its own viaduct.
The structure stands as the tallest stone aqueduct worldwide, still transporting 4.4 cubic meters of Durance river water per second to Marseille since its 1847 inauguration.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,445 contributors worldwide.
