Historic Site of Lyon

The Aqueducts of Lugdunum

Lyon's aqueducts, built between 20 BCE and the early decades of Lugdunum (modern-day Lyon), represent an extraordinary engineering feat for their time. These four aqueducts, equipped with nine inverted siphons, were designed to overcome deep or wide valleys, ensuring a reliable water supply for one of Gaul's largest cities. The study highlights the significance of Dr. Jean Burdy's long-term research, which uncovered and preserved these ancient structures through meticulous investigation of historical records and physical remains. Today, Lyon, with over a million inhabitants, stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, partly due to its 2000-year-old urban architecture, including these remarkable aqueducts. This work not only sheds light on Roman engineering but also underscores the importance of preserving such heritage for future generations.