Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Peter Vazquez has been quietly making a name for himself for years.
The Appetite Repair Shop
Ōmori Nori Vending Machine
Parkway Bakery and Tavern has been slinging these sandwiches since 1929.
Parkway Bakery and Tavern
Parkside Plum Juice
Dishes at Aksorn are grounded in deep historical research.
Aksorn
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
7 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
8 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
9 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
10 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Italy Chatillon Ru du Pan Perdu
AO Edited

Ru du Pan Perdu

For centuries this cliffside aqueduct was believed to be of Roman origin, but it actually dates to the medieval era.

Chatillon, Italy

Added By
andrenavillod
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Arches of the Ru du Pan Perdu from below   Gian Mario Navillod
Arches of the Ru du Pan Perdu from below   Gian Mario Navillod
Monumental pillar, section of about 7 to 9 feet tall.   Gian Mario Navillod
Arches of the Ru du Pan Perdu from above   Gian Mario Navillod
Southern portion of Arches of the Ru du Pan Perdu   Gian Mario Navillod
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Far in the northwest corner of Italy, in the town of Antey-Saint-André, an ancient, little-known aqueduct hugs the hillside. Dating back to the ninth century, the medieval aqueduct, known as Ru Du Pan Perdu, was originally built as an irrigation canal. The structure would collect water falling from mountainside streams and funnel it to the agricultural land below. The name Ru Du Pan Perdu literally means "channels of lost bread" and indicates that the laborers who built the aqueduct were likely never paid for their work and therefore did not complete the project.

The site became a popular spot on the European "Grand Tour." From the 17th to the mid-19th centuries, European wealthy young people would embark on these Grand Tours across Europe and the Middle East, often spending months or even years away. One such tourist, Edward Whymper, who climbed the Matterhorn in 1865, wrote about seeing the aqueduct in his diary: "One sees from the path, at several places on the right bank of the valley, groups of arches which have been built high against the faces of the cliffs."

At the time, almost everyone thought these impressive arches were Roman, not medieval. Guide books of the era repeated the falsehood. But Whymper correctly guessed the aqueduct was a later construction. He wrote, "the work has not the usual Roman solidity. The arches have always seemed to me to be the remains of an unfinished work."

Today, the aqueduct is visited far less frequently than in the 19th-century. But for those willing to make the trek, the structure also offers stunning views of the surrounding Alps.

Related Tags

Hiking Roman Medieval Water Agriculture Farming Aqueducts

Know Before You Go

After reaching Antey-Saint-André, drive on the highway towards Chatillon. From there, follow signs to Breuil-Cervinia. There’s a parking lot to the right of the tourism office and that’s where the trailhead for path 105 starts. 

Once on the trail, keep your eyes peeled for an engraving that reads "1879 7B", just before a large rock with a yellow trail mark. Then follow a smaller trail to the left for about 40 yards. There you’ll see the base of an 8-foot-tall pillar that’s part of the aqueduct. 

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Italy: Roman Carbonara, Florentine Steak & Venetian Cocktails

Savor local cuisine across Rome, Florence & Venice.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

andrenavillod

Published

November 11, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.wikiwand.com/it/Ru_(idraulica)
  • https://books.google.com/books?id=J-A7AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA122&lpg=PA122&dq=they+are+the+remains+of+a+Roman+aqueduct.+They+have+the+Roman+boldness+of+conception,+but+the+work+has+not+the+usual+Roman+solidity&source=bl&ots=kwTFjZcyf-&sig=ACfU3U331qskBX1aKBWI1_Dyl0z_uayD5A&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjmxaGvjvjzAhVOm2oFHZgsDmwQ6AF6BAgCEAM#v=onepage&q=they%20are%20the%20remains%20of%20a%20Roman%20aqueduct.%20They%20have%20the%20Roman%20boldness%20of%20conception%2C%20but%20the%20work%20has%20not%20the%20usual%20Roman%20solidity&f=false
  • http://www.renaudgranda.com/cervino/village.html
  • https://gian.mario.navillod.it/ru-du-pan-perdu-di-antey/
  • https://archive.org/details/scramblesamongst00whymuoft/page/122/mode/1up?view=theater&q=antey
  • https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k205825t.image.r=whymper.f1.langFR
Ru du Pan Perdu
Unnamed Road
Chatillon, 11024
Italy
45.76035, 7.616213
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Barmaz Ghost Village

Saint-Denis, Italy

miles away

Strada del Sole ('Road of the Sun')

Pontey, Italy

miles away

Villaggio dei Salassi

La Magdeleine, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Italy

Italy

Europe

Places 1,054
Stories 110

Nearby Places

Barmaz Ghost Village

Saint-Denis, Italy

miles away

Strada del Sole ('Road of the Sun')

Pontey, Italy

miles away

Villaggio dei Salassi

La Magdeleine, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Italy

Italy

Europe

Places 1,054
Stories 110

Related Places

  • Remains of the flume supports

    Naples, Utah

    Dry Fork Flume Site

    This hiking trail is scattered with the remains of a failed attempt to provide water to farmers in Dry Fork Canyon.

  • Diokletian Aqueduct

    Split, Croatia

    Dioklecijanov Akvadukt (Diocletian Aqueduct)

    This ancient Roman aqueduct once funneled water to Diocletian's palace.

  • Brooks Aqueduct

    Tilley, Alberta

    Brooks Aqueduct

    Built to supply water to farmers in Alberta, this was once was the world's longest elevated concrete structure.

  • Gallicano nel Lazio, Italy

    Ponte Lupo

    A colossal aqueduct from the second century B.C., deeply hidden in a gorge on the outskirts of Rome.

  • Salerno, Italy

    Salerno Medieval Aqueduct

    According to the legend, this structure was built in a single night with the help of the devil.

  • San Agustín Etla, Mexico

    Old San Agustin Aqueduct

    Amid lush greenery, a man-made channel peppered with graffiti that dates back to 1881.

  • Water rushes through the upper reaches of the scar.

    Westmorland and Furness, England

    Ewbank Scar

    Water demonstrates its carving power along a Cumbrian trail.

  • Overlooking Mamurra’s villa and baths.

    Formia, Italy

    Parco Naturale Regionale di Gianola e Monte di Scauri

    This little visited park is a treasure trove of ancient Roman ruins.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.