The Democratic Nature of Water

Perhaps what makes rivers so central to French identity is their fundamental democracy. A river doesn't care about your social status, your origin, or your beliefs. The same water that flows past the Élysée Palace also waters the community gardens of the banlieues. Children from every background splash in the same swimming holes. Anglers of all nationalities share the early morning mist rising from the water.

This accessibility has made rivers natural gathering places throughout French history. They've hosted revolutionary meetings and romantic encounters, family picnics and protest marches. During the Paris Plages, when the Seine's banks transform into beaches, the river becomes a great equalizer—offering the same respite to those who cannot afford a vacation as to those who choose to stay in the city.