The village of Ventabren is home to the largest stone aqueduct in the world, the Roquefavour aqueduct, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Perched on a hill, near Aix-en-Provence and Marseille, Ventabren overlooks the valley and the Etang de Berre.
This authentic village, listed since 1971 in the inventory of picturesque sites in the Bouches du Rhône, is home to many buildings and monuments such as the Roquefavour aqueduct, the remains of Queen Jeanne's castle...
The Roquefavour aqueduct is impressive by its height of 83 metres and its 375 metres long (compared to 47 metres high and 266 metres long for the Pont du Gard). The building allows the water to flow from the Durance to Marseille.
Built between 1842 and 1847 by the Swiss engineer Franz Mayor de Montricher, then aged 26, at the request of Maximin de Consolat, mayor of Marseille, it was intended to supply the city with water to withstand droughts. He thus saved the inhabitants of Marseille from cholera.
Nearly 5,000 workers, including 300 stonemasons, took part in this three-storey construction.
Today this incredible structure of three rows of arches is still in use.
