Aymavilles Pont D’Ael

Pont d’Aёl is an aqueduct-bridge built by the Romans in 3 BC, located just over 5 minutes’ drive from Aymavilles, at the beginning of the Cogne Valley.
It is an extraordinary piece of masonry architecture, made of cut stone blocks.
This structure takes the form of a bridge, about 56 meters high and more than 50 meters long.
An inscription appears on the north front of the bridge-aqueduct, giving the date of construction of Pont d’Aёl, 3 B.C., and the name of the promoter and owner, namely a certain Caius Avillius Caimus originally from Padua.
Caius had the concession to build on the Grand-Eyvia stream and had decided to build the entire bridge-aqueduct at his own expense.
We therefore know that it is a private building.
What Pont d’Aël looks like and what it was used for In Roman times, the Pont d’Aёl monument served as an aqueduct-bridge.
It is in fact internally hollow and divided into two distinct levels: an originally waterproofed upper level that corresponds to a channel paved in large square lithic slabs that allowed the passage of water captured from springs located on the left bank of the stream; a lower level about a meter wide that allowed the transit of people and animals.
This passage was aerated and illuminated.
Below the lower part of the aqueduct were empty rooms with distance walls that divided these rooms from each other.
This is an extremely durable type of structure that allowed the aqueduct to be preserved for so long.
How to reach Pont d’Aël It is very easy to reach Pont d’Aёl: simply follow the road from Aymavilles, on the orographic right of the Dora Baltea, leading toward Cogne.
Continuing for 5 kilometers by car, on the right side of the mountain road you descend to the stream and find yourself in front of the bridge.
Pont d’Aёl is about 20 minutes from Aosta and 25 minutes from Cogne.
It is not a well-known destination for tourists coming to the Valley, because other attractions are usually given priority.
However, if you plan to visit this valley, or the Castle of Aymavilles, a stop in Pont d’Aёl is a must.