Paris Summer Walk – Photos Along the Seine During a Heatwave
Life in Paris under 37°C. A photographic stroll along the Seine, where light, heat and fleeting freshness shape the urban rhythm of a scorching summer evening.
Walking through Paris during the July 8, 2022 heatwave
On July 8, 2022, Paris sweltered in a brutal heatwave. As temperatures climbed above 37°C (98.6°F), the streets emptied and Parisians instinctively sought refuge near the Seine River. This photographic walk captures these suspended moments — between blazing sunlight and fleeting coolness.
From the shaded quays of Île Saint-Louis to the Pont des Arts, the capital seemed to slow down. Along the banks, people sat as close as possible to the water, hoping to catch a breath of air. Conversations lingered, bodies relaxed, and faces bathed in the last rays of sun.
Each photo tells a quiet story: a couple resting beneath weeping willows, friends lying on sun-warmed stones, children laughing at the water’s edge. In the late afternoon, the golden light of the setting sun wrapped the Haussmann façades in cinematic warmth.
One image highlights the arch of Pont de la Tournelle, glowing in a soft, slanting light. The graphic composition isolates the stone structure against the evening sky, embodying the dialogue between the city’s history and the surrounding elements.
This visual walk reminds us how Paris, even under extreme heat, remains a city of contrasts and poetry. The captured scenes show how urban dwellers reclaim public space in trying conditions, transforming riverbanks into shared places of rest, gathering, and reflection.
To explore more urban photo series, you can also visit my collection on contemporary architecture at the François Mitterrand Library or César’s “Thumb” sculpture at La Défense.
To follow the evolution of Paris’s climate and understand the increasing frequency of heatwaves, see the Météo-France climate change reports. And for more on how the City of Paris is adapting public spaces, visit the official website of the City of Paris.
About the author: Sebastien Desnoulez is a photographer focused on architecture and urban life. Through a sensitive and contemporary visual approach, he captures the atmospheres and contrasts that define our cities. Learn more.
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All the photos displayed on this website are copyright protected © Sebastien Desnoulez. No use allowed without written authorization.
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