Towards the Pont du Gard via the aqueducts from Castillon-du-Gard

A different way to access the Pont du Gard on foot is from the top of the bridge, following the aqueducts that are often overlooked by the public. You will walk along fairly flat paths and discover ruins along the way. You will arrive at the top of the Pont du Gard and can descend to the Pont du Gard site free of charge.
Given the multitude of paths, it is essential to use GPS for guidance.

Details

88951509
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.34 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 131 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 137 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 98 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 28 m

Description of the walk

Park in the village of Castillon-du-Gard, next to the church.

(S/E) Go down the very old stone path (Chemin de Larticoyse) to the right of the church and to the left of the pedestrian street (Rue du Presbytère). Once at the bottom of the path, you will find a crossroads marked by a cross.

(1) Take the path on the left, walk along the fields and vineyards, cross a small stream and you will arrive at a crossroads.

(2) Continue along the path opposite and you will come to a crossroads with a green gate.

(3) Turn left, do not take the path with the large boulders. Continue through the forest until you reach a large crossroads.

(4) Take the second path on the left and continue to the next fork in the path.

(5) Turn right, then keep right at the next crossroads and you will soon reach the GR®63.

(6) Take it on the left and walk along the ruins of the aqueduct. Note: this route can be taken on either side of the aqueduct. Continue straight ahead until you reach a cross-country track.

(7) Continue to the right and then left onto the road. You will soon reach the D981 roundabout.

(8) Cross it with great care, taking the cycle path to reach the park on the other side of the road. Head up towards other aqueduct ruins and continue along them, following the white and red GR® markings. You will find another of the aqueduct ruins.

(9) Follow them opposite to reach the top of the Pont-du-Gard, more aqueduct ruins. Following these ruins, you will arrive at a viewpoint located at the top of the Pont du Gard.

(10) Continue on, cross the bridge, then descend the stairs to reach the Pont du Gard site.

(11) Turn around and start your return journey to Castillon-du-Gard by following the route in reverse, arriving at the Carrefour du Portail Vert crossroads, which you passed on the way there.

(3) Keep left and take the path heading north. Cross the area known as Le Mas de Pradon, then return to the vineyards. Next, join the Route de Vers.

(12) Turn right onto this almost straight road and you will come to the crossroads with the cross that you also passed on the way there.

(1) Go straight ahead and follow the same route as on the way there to return to the Castillon-du-Gard car park next to the church (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 96 m - Car park next to the church.
  2. 1 : km 0.26 - alt. 60 m - Carrefour de la Croix
  3. 2 : km 1.56 - alt. 46 m - Crossing track
  4. 3 : km 1.89 - alt. 52 m - Carrefour du Portail Vert
  5. 4 : km 2.4 - alt. 73 m - Large crossroads
  6. 5 : km 2.71 - alt. 68 m - Fork in the road
  7. 6 : km 2.82 - alt. 66 m - Ruins of the GR aqueduct
  8. 7 : km 3.41 - alt. 49 m - Crossing track
  9. 8 : km 3.74 - alt. 46 m - Roundabout
  10. 9 : km 4.59 - alt. 60 m - Ruins of the Aqueduct
  11. 10 : km 5.2 - alt. 61 m - Viewpoint over the - Le Gardon
  12. 11 : km 5.77 - alt. 35 m - Site of the - Pont du Gard
  13. 12 : km 10.57 - alt. 56 m - Route de Vers
  14. S/E : km 11.34 - alt. 97 m - Car park next to the church.

Notes

(S/E) and (11): you can eat in Castillon-du-Gard and at the Pont du Gard site.
(11): you can walk under the bridge, eat and use the toilets.

Worth a visit

(S/E) Castillon-du-Gard: take the time to visit this village, it is very picturesque and has plenty of restaurants.
(10) Aqueduct and Pont du Gard.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

3 / 5
Based on 3 reviews

Reliability of the description
2 / 5
Ease of following the route
2.7 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
B&G
B&G
• Edited:

Hello,

Given the multitude of trails, it is indeed essential to use GPS for guidance; we should have made that clear...

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ClaudeLaTour
ClaudeLaTour

Overall rating : 2 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 12, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route lacks precision, particularly between points 2 and 3, as well as on the return between 2 and 8, where you find yourself in a maze of cycle paths that you can take or leave, with no way of knowing where to go unless you follow a GPS route, I think.
At point 2, there is no green gate, but rather a grey/green gate. However, on the right, there is a removable green barrier...
On the return journey, starting from point 2, there is no path to the north but a track, initially suitable for vehicles, before joining a path...
In conclusion, a more precise description, or an indication of the GPS tracking option as a priority, would be useful to avoid too much "wandering" or to do so in full knowledge of the facts, in which case it can be fun.
(The IGN map is of course still recommended... but here too, it is missing!)

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jeanine terral
jeanine terral

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 07, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant hike but not marked in places and the explanations are not very precise. Conclusions: several extra kilometres.

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B&G
B&G

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A wonderful surprise, with 80% of the hike taking place on beautiful forest trails. Few people until Vers, but increasingly more until Pont du Gard. Be sure to take the "panoramic view at 200 m" trail on the right when you reach the bridge, which offers the most beautiful view from above and from the water's edge. This is undoubtedly the most beautiful way to discover this Roman aqueduct, with the first ruins emerging from the forest at the start of the walk. The hike ends on the road with a lovely panoramic view of the village of Castillon, which is worth a few detours through its cobbled streets.

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