Majestic view of the neo-Gothic spires of Saint-André Church above Niort, France

Rivers, lakes and canals

Riverbanks, lakes, canals, locks and marshes, with their reflections. 79 photos

Overhead view of a mossy creek among rocks in Basque country

Idyllic view of a river with lush vegetation and a bridge in Villandry, France

Charming historic boat docked along the tranquil riverbank in Villandry, France

Villandry bridge over the river decorated with pink geraniums

Artistic reflection of flowers and a lamp post in a waterway, creating a dreamy effect against a clear sky

Sparkling stream flowing through spring vegetation toward a calm lake

Ducks swimming in a flooded canal under a bridge in Niort, France, during spring

Single rock in clear shallow water on a pebbly lakeshore

Fallen dead tree lying in green algae water beside bramble bushes

Calm lake framed by overhanging tree branches and green foliage

Vertical view of Fougères Castle walls above a stream and wildflowers

Pink valerian flowers above water rushing down stone steps of a weir

Pond reflecting bare trees and sky through ivy-covered trunks

Black and white image of a secluded house by a river surrounded by lush forest

Black and white riverside promenade along the Charente in Cognac

A moody black and white photo of an empty rowboat surrounded by fallen autumn leaves on a calm lake

View of Saint-André Church in Niort with the Sèvre Niortaise river in the foreground, France

River weir under a wooden footbridge beside an old mill

Old stone arch bridge over a small river in a limestone town

Lake reflecting a cloudy sky with fallen leaves on the shore

Angler fishing on a green riverbank lined with tall trees

Gnarled knees of a bald cypress on a riverbank

Ivy-covered tree trunk among lush vegetation on a riverbank

Concrete road bridge reflected in a calm river, black and white

Purple loosestrife in bloom on a riverbank under a cloudy summer sky

Bald cypress trunk and knees on a riverbank

Sunlit riverbank with trees and fallen leaves in late summer

Wooden pontoon and small boat on a calm river reflecting clouds

Calm canal lined with lush trees under a cloudy sky

Small weir with cascading water under a metal footbridge

Clear shallow river with a footbridge and tree reflections

Traditional flat-bottomed boats moored along a canal in the Marais Poitevin

Riverside promenade along the Sèvre Niortaise with Notre-Dame spire in Niort

About this gallery

This gallery follows fresh water in every form: rivers, lakes, canals, locks and marshes, with their reflections and their banks. The seasons answer each other here, from spring's bright colors to the rust of autumn leaves.

In Niort, the neo-Gothic spires of Saint-André church rise above the town and the Sèvre Niortaise river, while ducks cross a flooded canal in spring. Further south, in Villandry, a river lined with lush vegetation flows under a bridge decked with pink geraniums, near an old moored boat. The Niort marsh appears in its narrow channels, locally called "airais". Elsewhere the water turns wilder: the machinery of a lock, a mossy stream among the rocks of the Spanish Basque Country, or lakes in the Vosges near Xonrupt, between forest and cloud-veiled ridges. A few images choose black and white: an empty rowboat left among fallen leaves, or a secluded house by the water, hemmed in by forest.

These royalty-free photos suit stories about water, fishing, river tourism or marshland life, a travel blog or a calming wallpaper. They can be downloaded for free on Pexels.

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