Diving into the Past and Future of Swimming in the Seine
Enjoying a Dip in the Seine: Paris Offers Three Swimming Locations in July - Enjoying a Dip in the Seine: Paris Offers Three Swimming Locations in July
Swimming in the Seine, Paris' historic waterway, has captivated the city's inhabitants for decades. The idea was first proposed by Jacques Chirac in 1988, but it wasn't until recently, driven by the 2024 Olympic Games, that progress was made [1][3].
Starting July 5, 2025, swimming enthusiasts will have three opportunities to dive into the Seine at these popular locations:- Port de Grenelle and Ile aux Cygnes in the 15th arrondissement,- An area opposite Ile Saint-Louis in the 4th arrondissement,- Port de Bercy opposite the National Library in the 13th arrondissement [1][4].
Dubbed as part of the Paris Plages initiative, these spots will boast amenities like changing rooms, showers, lifeguard supervision, and sunbathing areas for everyone's enjoyment [3][4].
Since around 23,000 Paris households still discharged their wastewater directly into the Seine or Marne rivers in the past, earning the river the unflattering nickname "Paris's toilet" [1]. Undertaking a cleaning operation, the state invested approximately 1.4 billion euros in preparation for the Olympics. Since then, additional efforts have connected more households to the sewage system, reducing the pollution in the river [1].
Despite significant improvements, water quality is a concern, especially during heavy rainfall, as it may lead to increased pollution levels. Safety measures have been put in place, like building a massive overflow basin near the Austerlitz train station to prevent sewage system flooding [1]. This basin can hold 50,000 cubic meters of water, roughly equal to 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools [1].
The history of swimming in the Seine dates back to the 1900 Summer Olympics, where competitions were held outside the city. However, swimming in the Seine was banned in 1923 [1]. The upcoming swimming areas have the potential to redefine Paris' river culture, mirroring the recreational revivals of other European cities [4].
- Historical Background
- Paris Plages 2025
- Cleanup Operation
- Water Quality Concerns
- Ecological Ambitions
- Future Paris Attractions
- Temperature Rising
[1] Paris Move!, "Olympic Games Swimming: Cleaning and swimming in the Seine in Paris?" June 13, 2021. https://parismove.co.uk/paris-olympic-games-swimming-cleaning-and-swimming-in-the-seine-in-paris/
[3] France 24, "Paris-Riviera: Cities respond to heatwaves with swimming spots in rivers, lakes, and former canals." July 24, 2022. https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20220724-paris-riviera-cities-respond-to-heatwaves-with-swimming-spots-in-rivers-lakes-and-former-canals-bathing-cities
[4] Le Parisien, "Three swimming spots along the Seine from 2025." April 8, 2022. https://www.leparisien.fr/campagne-de-paris/vie-pratique/fontaine-aux-nages-nos-etangs-treize-bassins-avec-des-espaces-de-bain-de-2025-08-04-2022-8331400.php
In an effort to enhance the city's lifestyle and promote outdoor-living, Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, is spearheading the Paris Plages 2025 initiative, which includes creating swimming areas along the Seine. This plan follows the city's preparations for the 2024 Olympics and the need for a cleaner river, as shown by the massive cleanup operation and investment in home-and-garden infrastructure that took place a few years back.
