Paris Revives Public Swimming in the Seine After a Century

PARIS: Residents of Paris flocked to the Seine for a swim after city officials allowed public bathing in the river for the first time since 1923. This development followed a thorough cleanup aimed at preparing the site for last year’s Paris Olympics.

The city has designated three spots along the Seine’s banks that can accommodate more than 1,000 swimmers daily until August 31, much to the joy of both locals and tourists eager to take a dip.

“It’s just great. I’m truly impressed,” said 24-year-old Victoria Cnop, a Brazilian living in Paris. “I never thought I would be swimming so close to the Eiffel Tower.”

“The water is clean, warm, and clear. There’s a little algae, but that’s to be expected,” remarked 51-year-old Karine. “Everyone should come here; it’s fantastic!”

The reopening of the Seine for swimming is a result of official efforts to enhance its water quality, a necessary step for hosting Olympic events last summer.

These improvements included connecting tens of thousands of homes to the sewer system, upgrading water treatment plants, and building large rainwater reservoirs to manage sewer overflow during heavy rainfall.

Despite some delays caused by health concerns from excessive rainfall that affected Olympic training sessions and the men’s triathlon, competitions in the Seine ultimately proceeded, boosting public confidence in the river’s safety for swimming.

Local authorities will conduct daily water quality assessments throughout the swimming season, using green and red flags—similar to beach safety systems—to indicate if swimming areas are open or closed.

“It’s absolutely wonderful,” said John Drummond, a 54-year-old visitor from Canada. “This initiative is beneficial for the environment, great for the city, and fantastic for the residents. What a great idea!”

In addition to the three swimming sites within Paris, 14 more areas have been set up along the Seine and Marne rivers outside the capital, with two already opened in June.