Metz (France)

Roman aqueducts: Metz (France) Metz - DIVODURUM
For the photo's, see below
Home / the complete website

It is generally accepted that the aqueduct S of Metz brought its water to Metz although the last kilometers of the conduit are missing. Its source was Les Bouillons north of Gorze. In Ars-sur-Moselle a huge aqueduct bridge crossed the Moselle river. In Ars the conduit was split in a castellum so that the crossing was made with two seperate channels to the second castellum in Jouy-aux-Arches on the W side of the river, where both channels were united and the water was conveyed direction Metz. The Ars castellum (E of the Moselle) also acted as a cleaning basin. Local water sources added their water in / near the castella on both sides of the Moselle river.

Wilke Schram
Photo's also from Driek van Opstal

Metz - METTIS

Item Info
Length 22 km
Cross-section 1,2 x 1,7 m
Volume 15.000 m3/day
Gradient 0,1 %
Period early 2nd c AD
Features
  • some putei (manholes)
  • castellum aquae in Ars-sur-Moselle
  • aqueduct bridge (1100 m) with twin channels
  • castellum aquae in Jouy-aux-Arches



Recommended literature : K. Grewe: Römische Wasserleitungen nördlich der Alpen (in: Die Wasserversorgung antike Städte vol 3 (1988) pag 76)
Recommended website : Archeographe.net
How to visit : For Jouy-aux-Arches take the N57 7 km south from Metz to Nancy. Ars is on the opposite side of the Moselle river.
HOME More literature on more aqueducts Last modified: August, 2012 - Wilke D. Schram
(W.D. Schram 'at' romanaqueducts.info)



Aqueduct map

Area of the source

Cut in channel

View into the channel

Downstream view

Inside the channel

5cm thick layer

Extra supply

Castellum at Ars

Two castella

Splitting basin

Outlet channel

Two sluice gates

Extra outlet

Twin channels

Bridge on the west bank

Last visible pier

Caementitium and bricks

View from the east

View from the west

Closer look

View on the piers

Jouy-basin

Jouy-castellum