At more than 1,000 kilometres in length, the Loire is the longest river in France. Its source lies at Mont Gerbier-de-Jonc, in the Ardèche. From there, it follows a great curve across the country before eventually flowing into the Atlantic Ocean near Saint-Nazaire.
Orléans is one of the cities that has grown up along its course. For many of its inhabitants, the Loire is much more than a river. It is a remarkable natural environment, rich and full of life, and much appreciated by the people who live in the city.
As for me, I live in the city centre, just a few hundred metres from the river. I therefore go there about twice a week to walk. Sometimes I walk upstream as far as Saint-Jean-de-Braye. More often, I head downstream towards La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin. In both cases, the walk is about twelve kilometres there and back.
All the photographs presented here were born from these walks. I first discover the places as I walk along the river. I then return at a time that seems right to me, when the light, the season or the atmosphere feels appropriate.
It is difficult for me to say how many times I have walked these paths. At two walks a week, that amounts to nearly a hundred walks each year. Over two decades, this comes to around 2,000 walks. And yet, even today, each walk remains a privileged moment, conducive to reflection and contemplation. Over the years, I have learned to look at this familiar Loire with a different kind of attention. The same path can reveal a completely different face depending on the season, the light, the water level, or simply the atmosphere of the moment. A tree, a house, a boat, a towpath, a few plants floating on the surface of the water, or a traditional river craft can all become photographic subjects.
It is this way of seeing, shaped by so many walks over the years, that I wish to share with you through these images.
I am pleased to invite you to discover these fragments of the Loire, as I have encountered them over the course of my walks.
Please feel free to share your impressions in the comments section below.
It is possible to see these photos with their caption in full screen. To do this, click on one of the photos below and then on the small rectangle at the top right.
