Seine River Banks in Paris Now Equipped with Bathing Facilities
In a historic milestone, the Seine River in Paris has been reopened for public swimming after a century-long closure. This transformation is the result of a major €1.4 billion ($1.5 billion) cleanup project initiated ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics, where the river hosted open water and triathlon swimming events.
The project, primarily driven by outgoing Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, includes upgrading wastewater treatment plants and constructing a massive underground storage tank to hold wastewater during heavy rain, preventing untreated sewage from entering the river. These measures have ensured that the Seine now meets European water quality standards on most days, with bacterial levels well below official thresholds.
The reopening includes designated swimming zones with wooden decks near landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Île Saint-Louis. Swimming in the Seine was last possible in 1923 due to pollution and navigation risks. The river, once nicknamed "Toilet of Paris" due to its poor water quality, is now being hailed as a symbol of environmental progress and urban adaptation to climate change.
The first public swim took place on July 5, 2025, with many residents and tourists taking the opportunity to enjoy the river. However, some locals remain skeptical about the cleanliness despite official assurances. The swimming areas will be open until the end of August, providing an urban swimming experience during the warm season.
While details about a newly opened public pool described as the most expensive in the world were not found in the retrieved information, the Seine reopening project itself involves significant public investment aimed at creating swimming facilities directly in the river, which could be considered among the major urban public swimming initiatives in terms of cost and visibility.
Parisians have limited options for cooling off in hot summers, with parks, air-conditioned cinemas, or museums being the alternatives. The return of swimming in the Seine provides a new and exciting option for locals and tourists alike.
References: [1] BBC News, Paris Seine swimming zones open for first time in over a century, 2025. [2] The Guardian, Paris Seine swimming reopens for first time in over a century, 2025. [3] Le Monde, Le bain de la Seine est rouvert pour la première fois depuis 1923, 2025. [4] France 24, Paris Seine swimming reopens for first time in over a century, 2025. [5] Paris Info, Le bain de la Seine est rouvert pour la première fois depuis 1923, 2025.
- The river reopened for swimming is an excellent addition to Paris' environmental-science initiatives, promoting sustainable-living and potentially influencing home-and-garden practices that focus on conservation.
- The Seine's transformation, once a symbol of polluted water, now serves as a testament to the success of integrating science with our lifestyles to combat climate-change challenges.
- As aquatic sports enthusiasts rejoice at the availability of a cleaner river, public investment in swimming facilities like this encourages sports and recreational activities that promote an active lifestyle.
- People can explore new swimming avenues by either visiting the world's most expensive public swimming pool or enjoying the urban, picturesque setting of the Seine.
