Touring Provence - Nimes - Castellum & Tour Magne

Two less-commonly preserved features of Roman urban life are to be found at Nîmes in the Castellum and the Tour Magne. The castellum divisiorum is the terminus of the aqueduct that ran from Uzès to Nîmes, part of which was carried by the Pont du Gard. From this point, the water that came into the city was distributed to public buildings, fountains and private citizens. The castellum consists of a circular basin about 5.5 meters in diameter and 1 meter deep. Some 20,000 cubic meters to 40,000 cubic meters of water poured into the basin daily. Ten lead pipes open out of the basin and channel the water to its various destinations within the city. It was once walled and roofed.

The Tour Magne is an octagonal tower at the top of Mont Cavalier, the highest point in town. The tower is now "only" 112 feet or 33 meters high; its top story is missing. It once was a watchtower and formed part of the city's fortifications. Now, it is a favorite place for hardy tourists to climb up the (modern) inside staircase and enjoy the spectacular views from the top.

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