A Roman aqueduct-bridge over the void
In the municipality of Aymavilles, at the entrance to the Cogne valley, a few kilometres from Aosta, one of the most surprising Roman monuments of the Alps spans a deep gorge: the Pont d'Aël, a bridge-aqueduct built in 3 BC, as an inscription on its side recalls, by a private citizen, Caius Avillius Caimus, from Padua, probably to bring water to the quarries and estates of his family. The bridge, built of large stone blocks, has a single arch and stands about 50 metres above the bed of the Grand Eyvia stream, which flows roaring at the bottom of the gorge, a remarkable feat of engineering for its time, which has survived intact for more than two thousand years.
The structure is unique because it combined two functions on two levels: at the top ran the channel of the aqueduct, while below, inside the structure, a covered walkway with small windows allowed people and animals to cross the gorge sheltered from the weather. Today, after restoration, the bridge can be crossed on foot, and the internal walkway can be visited: walking along it, you can look down into the void through the small windows, a thrilling experience. On the other side of the bridge lies the small hamlet of Pont d'Aël, with its stone houses, and from here paths lead into the woods. Aymavilles also boasts a beautiful castle with four round towers, recently restored, and is known for its vineyards and wines.
Tip: walk inside the covered walkway of the bridge; combine the visit with the castle of Aymavilles and a wine tasting.
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