Aix-en-Provence Region
Roquefavour Aqueduct
Near Aix-en-Provence, the Roquefavour Aqueduct crosses the Arc valley with unexpected scale, recalling how deeply the history of water has shaped inland Provence.
A giant of stone in the Arc valley
Built between 1841 and 1847, the Roquefavour Aqueduct first impresses through its proportions: 82 metres high, 375 metres long, with three tiers of arches. It crosses the Arc valley near Ventabren, in a landscape of hills, pine woods and pale slopes.
From the road or from nearby paths, the monument appears almost as a single mass. Its blond stone, massive piers and rhythm of arches give it a presence very different from the fountains and squares of Aix: here, the heritage of the Pays d’Aix becomes infrastructure, landscape and industrial memory.
Water from the Durance to Marseille
Roquefavour is one of the major structures of the Marseille Canal. In the 19th century, the city financed this project to bring water from the Durance to Marseille, which was then facing shortages, polluted water and epidemics. The aqueduct allows the canal to cross the Arc valley before continuing southwards.
This history gives the site more depth than a simple viewpoint. In a few arches, it reveals the link between the Durance, Aix-en-Provence, the Étang de Berre and Marseille: a Provence of canals, reliefs to cross and cities that long had to organize their access to water.
A short escape from Aix, between heritage and landscape
Recently restored, the Roquefavour Aqueduct remains one of the major heritage landmarks of the Pays d’Aix. It is easy to include during a stay in Aix-en-Provence, alongside a walk near Ventabren, an outing towards Sainte-Victoire or a route towards the Étang de Berre.
This short getaway shows another side of the region: less urban than the centre of Aix, less famous than the villages of the Luberon, but very revealing of the way water, stone and relief have shaped inland Provence.
Our selection
Guest houses around Aix-en-Provence to extend the getaway
The portal favours direct links to owners' websites. You can compare atmospheres, locations and services, then contact the guest house that best suits your stay in the Pays d’Aix.