The importance of this, one of the largest rivers in France, cannot be underplayed; it has been the lifeblood of the community since the earliest settlers started a small community in the banks of the great confluence many thousands of years ago. The river has been one of the primary forms of transport in and out of the city, particularly for goods, and is therefore not the most attractive river in places at the heart of the city. That said there are many interesting pieces of industrial history that can be discovered by taking a stroll along the banks.
