This series of pictures shows the origins of the Route national 6 and 7 and the A6 (Autoroute du Soleil), which is the route from Paris down to the south of France. The Route National 6 and 7 has long been the major route from Paris, taking the French and northern Europeans to the south. The roads were localised last year losing their status of route national due to the popularity of the A6. The photographs show the origins of the route from the pilgrim’s trail, which crossed these roads to the first official modernisation of the roads by the Romans.

The images also portray the environmental impact the autoroute and route national have had on the surrounding nature, whether it is the stark contrast of the motorway or the subtler blend the route national has with the landscape. From the Trader routes between towns to river transport marking the direction of the road to pilgrims, the routes linked together enabling long distance journeys. From here the first modern road structures built by the Roman Empire, formed the basis of the route national 6 and 7 today. The effect on the surrounding environment is a more natural interaction, blending the manmade structures in to the landscape as nature has incorporated them over the years. In contrast the A6 (Autoroute du Soleil) is a shock to its natural surroundings, highlighting the directness of its purpose of transporting traffic from the north to south of the country.

Through the images I have tried to show the how the roads have evolved through the ages and the varying effects this has had on nature, being shaped and carved by our need to travel.

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