Roman Structures > Aqueducts > Aqueduct of Saintes

Aqueduct of Saintes

Roman aqueduct of Mediolanum SantonumSaintes Aqueductor slabGallery of water (Le Douhet, the Roc).Gallery of water ( Le Douhet , the Roc).GeographyCountryFlag of France la FranceSaintesbeginningThe Grand Font, Le Douhet.45 ° 49 '01 "N , 0 ° 33 '11 "WEndSaintes -is, right bank.crossingLe Douhet , Vénérand andFontcouverte .crossesLe Val des Arcs,a stream,Roman roads toAulnay and CognacCharacteristicsoriginal length17 kmaltitudesStart: 48 mEnd: 24 mElevation24 mFood4 sourcesUsePotable water,Spa,urban fountainsHistoryStart year workfirst centuryClosingfourth centuryAdministrationProtectionLe Douhet Logo monument historique Ranked MH ( 1840 )Foncouverte Logo monument historique Ranked MH ( 1990 )edit See the documentation of the modelThe Roman aqueduct of Saintes is a hydraulic structure , with waterworks , which fed, from i. to iv century , Mediolanum Santonum (Saintes) in drinking water: the thermal baths of Saint-Vivien (right bank, today ' hui disappeared), those of Saint-Saloine (left bank) and public fountains.Summary1History2DescriptionFlow2.13The three sources3.1The original source3.2The second source3.3The third sourceRoute44.1First phase4.2Second phase4.3Third phase4.4 Underground4.5Ground4.6By air5Archaeology6Gallery7See also7.1Bibliography7.2Related articles8ReferencesHistory [ change | modify the code ]The aqueduct was built by the Romans to the dynasty of the Julio-Claudian , around the year 20 AD.The second phase, due to the expansion of Saintes and the increase of its population, dates from the late first century or the early second , ie, approximately between 70 and 120 .A third tranche has been updated . It is not yet dated.Their use has ceased during the fourth century .A major portion of the masonry was reused for other constructions. The fact remains, except the sources coupled with a wash (to the XVIII - xix centuries , some underground parts accessible and visitable and two batteries of the canal bridge and the basis of some other of its batteries L. water flows so now, in the open, unprotected on a large part of its path outside galleries.Description [ edit | edit the code ]A duct section,Archaeological Museum of Saintes .The pipes are shaped section of U or simply flared square, depending on location. This U-shaped or V with a rounded base, allowing water to flow properly, despite the slight gradient, regardless of speed. A slice of piping is exposed to the lapidary .They are, on average, reaching 60 cm and broad, deep, 30 cm and up to 40 cm.The height and width of the galleries are site and from one era to another and some exceed 2 m high and wide while others do not make a meter. The galleries of the size is not the same between the first and second aqueduct. The second generation has a higher effective diameter, like the higher throughput of the two new sources.Alternately, through tunnels, ditches, bridges, according to the morphology of the terrain, the water flows by gravity, along a steady and very low gradient: less than 1 mm per meter (0.08 to 0.1%) . Its general axis is oriented north-east / south-west and is bordered by the N150 ( Saint Jean d'Angely -Saintes) that crosses the north of the present town.Manufacturers will connect the new aqueduct to the former than for the crossings, so as not to have to rebuild bridges. They raised funds for the second aqueduct is a little higher up than the last.Traces of these aqueducts are lost between the N141 ( road of Agrippa towards Cognac from Saintes) and the right bank of the Charente . The lift system siphons , to the Baths of St. Saloine (left bank), has not been revealed. Nevertheless, pipelines, from the left side going up the Butte Hospital .Flow [ edit | edit the code ]The flow estimates from these sources were made by Mr Bailhache in 1979 . These figures indicate the daily volume during the commissioning.Morillon are: 3 000 m 3;Large Font: 10 850 m 3;Moulin: 8525 m 3;T junction channels of Douhet and Foncouverte: 19,375 m 3.Also according to the findings of Bailhache, limestone and alluvial deposits, forming an irregular and not smooth layer, reduced sections of pipelines to slow the flow of half the water at the end of the exploitation of aqueducts.The three sources [ edit | edit the code ]The original source [ edit | edit the code ]The source of Font Morillon.It is captured in the Font Morillon , in Fontcouverte , a few kilometers northeast of Saintes, in the basin of a domed chamber carved into the rock, then is channeled. It gives its name to the city: indoor fountain.In 2013 , this room éboulée is updated and is being cleared. Access is regulated there, because of the excavations, but we can see the retention pond (a semicircle of 3m diameter). A wash house was built a few meters from the source.This source is still active.The second source [ edit | edit the code ]The source of Grand FontThe further north, where the dull water in two places, is captured in the Grand Font of Douhet , between the localities at Perot and Roc. Its dual channel the Font Morillon but do not borrow: they are parallel and separated by a few meters.The path of the stream is derived, in the Middle Ages , the castle to feed and water at the exit of the underground, it flows into a wash, then continues its descent into a non-channeled partly Creek.Before the Romans the channel, this source was used during the early history through the natural fault that the Romans enlarged.This source is still active.The third source [ edit | edit the code ]The entrance of the Mill, to the aqueduct.It is operated Vénérand , at a place called the Mill, about halfway from the other two.While no longer used for the aqueduct, water source is diverted to drive the wheel (now defunct) mill. A wash house was built between the source and the mill.This source is still active.The source of the Rock, now dry in the summer does not fed the aqueduct. It is clearly posterior him. Its layout, and the double wash, date of 1872 .Path [ edit | edit the code ]First phase [ edit | edit the code ]Fontcouverte: the Font Morillon (. Alt 42 m), the Grimauderie the Chagnaud the Plantis Nine Wells, the Bois de la Tonne, Hautmont, the Chaillot and in Saintes, crosses the Roman road to Aulnay , in the Greve the Roman road to Cognac (N141) at the Grille, and goes under the stud then go up to the current prison. The first aqueduct ceased to be used during the commissioning of the second.Second phase [ edit | edit the code ]Le Douhet: Perot home, or the Rock, the Castle, the Creek, the fountains, the Foucherie (or Fourcherie) in Siquet and the Vallon de la Tonne to Font Morillon, where it doubles the first.Vénérand: Vallon du Moulin to the ton, where he joined the second phase, between and among Gautreau Puy Gibaud, and follows the first aqueduct.Third phase [ edit | edit the code ]This section is empty, insufficiently detailed or incomplete. Your help is welcome!Underground [ edit | edit the code ]Tunnels to cross the hills are carved into the rock. The pipeline, in stone, is covered with stone lintels as protection against debris.Ground [ edit | edit the code ]The scuppers (open areas) follow the natural slope of the land and are also channeled blocks of stone but are no longer covered rubble.In air [ change | modify the code ]According to the plan drawn up by Triou, there were:a bridge wall (10 m long), crossing a ravine at a place called the Grimauderie;the canal bridge (160 m long, 20 m high), arch cells of which are visible to the southwest from the town of Fontcouverte, at a place called the Valley of Les Arcs, in the golf Saintes;another bridge (400 m long), between Les Arcs and La Grille to cross a stream and its valley in Hautmont .Vallon des ArcsArch south to eastnorth ArchesInner side of a pillarJunction ditches, northClick on a thumbnail to enlargeArchaeology [ edit | edit the code ]At Saintes Archaeological Museum, located in the old slaughterhouse (right bank), a section of pipe is exposed, among other discoveries made in the city.Many archaeologists have studied the aqueducts of Saintes since the early eighteenth century . C. Weight Bourignon F. ( 1801 ), L.-Ch. Gaurier ( 1902 to 1904 ) or, again, the renowned Abel Triou (aided by his three brothers) who is the one who invented the full circuit layout, from 1968 , which initiated the current research.Bernard Bourgueil (the Archaeological Society and History of the Charente-Maritime - SAHCM) stimulus excavations in 2003 with teams of volunteers. Meanwhile, Jean-Louis Hillairet , an archaeologist at the Inrap of Bordeaux , prospecting for Foncouverte, discovered a third aqueduct above the first and met many well .Since 2012 , "a steering committee, consisting of the four municipalities concerned and the Country of the Saintonge, the Cdc Pays Santon , the Archaeological Society and History, Conservation Museum of Saintes, of 'Heritage Workshop Saintonge, the Tourist Office of Saintes, the DRAC , ... "make every effort so that the aqueduct is visitable by the public, so renovated and secure.Gallery [ edit | edit the code ]Click on a thumbnail to enlargeWebsite Font-Morillon (source 1)Roc website (source 2)Val site of the GarterSite du Moulin (source 3)See also [ edit | edit the code ]On the other Wikimedia projects:Media files on the aqueduct of Saintes , Wikimedia CommonsReferences [ change | modify the code ]Document used for writing Triou Abel. The Gallo-Roman aqueducts Saintes (Charente-Maritime). In: Gallia. Volume 26 Issue 1, 1968. p. 119-144.Related articles [ edit | edit the code ]SaintesLe DouhetFontcouverteVénérandList of Roman aqueducts in FranceList of historical monuments of SaintesList of historical monuments of the Charente-MaritimeReferences [ change | modify the code ]↑ South West , "The aqueduct classified as a historic monument" , June 29, 2011 (accessed 21 August 2013)↑ "The Charente-Maritime by Louis Maurin" on http://books.google.fr/ (accessed 21 August 2013)↑ a and b South West, "The revelation of the aqueduct" , October 10, 2010 (accessed 21 August 2013)↑ "The Gallo-Roman aqueducts Saintes (Charente-Maritime), p.142" on persee.fr (accessed 21 August 2013)↑ "Notice No. PA00105313" , basis Merimee , French Ministry of Culture↑ "Notice No. PA00104671" , basis Merimee , French Ministry of Culture↑ "The Aqueduct" on fontcouverte17.fr (accessed 21 August 2013)↑ "Private archives. 12S. Sub Series Fund engineer Abel Triou " on archivescannes.ville-cannes.fr, February 29, 1996 (accessed 21 August 2013)↑ "History of Water" , on ste-archeologique17.asso.fr (accessed 21 August 2013)↑ "A comprehensive project for the aqueduct" , on cc-pays-santon.fr (accessed 21 August 2013)↑ South West, "The aqueduct still reveals a little more" , February 27, 2012 (accessed 21 August 2013)↑ South West, "A Study to open aqueduct to the public" , September 17, 2011 (accessed 21 August 2013)

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