On the bank of the Loire

France’s third nuclear power plant opened in in 1969, with one Uranium Naturel Graphite Gaz (UNGG) gas-cooled reactor (similar to the UK’s Magnox reactors); a second was added in 1971. They were shut down in 1990 and 1992 respectively, but the housings remain, apart from the cooling towers, the largest buildings on the site, and the first things a canoeist sees.

In 1983 two 900MW pressurised water reactors (PWR), of similar design to the UK’s Sizewell B, came on stream and remain in service.  They are much smaller, and as trees have grown around the site, the concrete domes are inconspicuous from the river. In the left hand picture below they are visible in front of the right hand cooling tower.

The PWR reactors use water from the Loire to cool the steam after it has powered the turbines. Hence the cooling towers which condense most of the steam back to water for return to the river.

The cooling towers are visible from Beaugency. Two km above the power station a sign on the left bank warns of the forthcoming barrage. One km later an ambiguous sign on the right bank indicates that canoeists should keep to the right bank. Don’t misinterpret it as “land and start the portage here” or you’ll have a long carry.

The landing point is about 50 meters above the weir, marked by a proper portage sign, and easy to see and land at.

The portage itself is on a concrete path. Arrrgh! I’d forgotten my wheels.  With a sandy beach put in.

Here’s some views of the power station and the weir

A lovely spot for a picnic.

I love nuclear power.

Jim Thornton