Battue mais imbéchée après des siècles de guerres, d'invasions, d'érosion et d'événements météorologiques extrêmes : l'arche du pont romain du 1st siècle après J.-C. enjambant la rivière Ouvèze à Vaison-la-Romaine dans le Vaucluse, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France.
2832 x 4256 px | 24 x 36 cm | 9,4 x 14,2 inches | 300dpi
Date de la prise de vue:
2 juillet 2010
Lieu:
Vaison-la-Romaine, Vaucluse, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France.
Informations supplémentaires:
Cette image peut avoir des imperfections car il s’agit d’une image historique ou de reportage.
Vaison-la-Romaine, Vaucluse, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France: repairs required after devastating floods in 1992 are obvious in the stonework of the donkey back, single arch Roman bridge over the Ouvèze river - but while more recent bridges in the area were swept away by the surge, the structure built in the 1st century AD survived. The bridge, built where the river narrows, has also weathered wars, invasions and erosion to maintain a physical link between the ancient Gallo-Roman settlement on the north bank of the Ouvèze with the medieval upper town to the south. It was strongly built of limestone blocks, held together by ironwork and anchored to the rocks. The arch spans 17.2 metres (56 ft) with a roadway 9m (30 ft) wide. The site of Vaison-la-Romaine was originally the capital of the Celtic Vocontii tribe, whose fortified settlement stood on the north bank. Under Roman rule, the Vocontii retained some autonomy, but their town, Vasio Julia Vocontiorum, became increasingly Romanised. Apart from the bridge, the Romans also built public monuments such as aqueducts, thermal baths and a theatre. The city thrived during the peaceful Pax Romana era, growing to cover about 75 hectares. It was among the richest settlements in the Roman province covering modern Provence and Languedoc, with many mosaic pavements in its finer houses. The city's peace and prosperity ended in 276 AD when the city was burned and pillaged by barbarian invaders. It never recovered, although after the Roman Empire fell, it became an important Christian centre with its own bishop. On the north bank, extensive Roman remains are now open to visitors in two areas, La Villasse and Puymin. D0934.B1225
