In all civilizations a supply of water is essential to life and the demand for water in a city is
very considerable. Baths, fountains, craftsmen’s workshops and private dwellings all need to be
supplied. Nyon therefore had an aqueduct. The engineers selected the springs in Divonne, now in
neighbouring France, as their point of departure. Situated at a slightly higher altitude, Divonne
has abundant pure water.
The Nyon canal consists of masonry walls supporting a vaulted roof and floored with baked clay
slabs. It is approximately ten kilometres long and has an average gradient of 8.5 ‰. The final
section identified is located in the west sector of Nyon in the Parc des Mangettes, but it is not yet
known where in Nyon the aqueduct terminated.

Section of aqueduct in Nyon	Springs in Divonne