The Spiritual Loire

Beyond its physical presence, the Loire holds spiritual significance for many communities. Ancient Celtic sacred sites dot its banks. Christian pilgrims have followed riverside routes for a millennium. Today, these traditional spiritual practices are joined by others.

In Beaugency, a meditation center welcomes practitioners from various traditions—Buddhist monks from the local Vietnamese community, Sufi groups, secular mindfulness practitioners. All find something in the river's flow that speaks to contemplation. "Water doesn't belong to any one religion," notes the center's director. "The Loire is a spiritual space that's genuinely universal."