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.
This classified historical monument represents nineteenth-century engineering excellence in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, inspiring regional pride and appearing in numerous artistic works and films about local heritage.
Located at D 65 in Ventabren with postal code 13122, the aqueduct remains inaccessible to wheelchair users due to uneven terrain and lacks interior public access.
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.
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