Sixteen arches rise before us. This is the Aqueduc de la Candolle. It is also known as les Arcades. This impressive structure stands near Marseille in La Penne-sur-Huveaune. The Aqueduc de la Candolle whispers tales of engineering and agricultural dreams.
Built in 1866 the Aqueduc de la Candolle is a testament to 19th-century ingenuity. Its purpose was simple yet vital. It was designed to carry water from the Durance River to the farmlands. The Aqueduc de la Candolle aimed to bring life to the commune’s agricultural endeavors. The water flowed through its arches in 1873.
Imagine water flowing through the Aqueduc de la Candolle. Visualize the sixteen arches supporting this vital waterway. The Aqueduc de la Candolle stretches 122 meters long. It reaches a height of 12 meters. The Aqueduc de la Candolle dominates the landscape. It is a bridge and an aqueduct.
The Aqueduc de la Candolle’s name comes from the nearby Château de la Candolle. The chateau took its name from the Candolle hill. This hill rises to 404 meters. The Aqueduc de la Candolle is thus linked to the land.
Sadly the Aqueduc de la Candolle’s active life was short. By 1986 the flow of water ceased. Fewer farms meant less need for the Aqueduc de la Candolle. The agricultural dream faded.
Yet the Aqueduc de la Candolle remains. It is a monument to a time of agricultural ambition. The Aqueduc de la Candolle stands as a reminder of human effort.
As you stand here consider the Aqueduc de la Candolle. It is a bridge to the past. It is a reminder of dreams both realized and lost.