Joyful Parisians take a historic plunge into the Seine after 100 years
Public swimming was allowed in designated areas of the Seine, including two newly built wooden decks near the Eiffel Tower and the Île Saint-Louis in central Paris. Before sunrise, a municipal officer skimmed away the last few patches of algae with a fishnet. Soon after, a line of eager Parisians formed, towels in hand, waiting for their chance to jump in.
Woos and cries of joy echoed across the riverbanks as the first swimmers entered the emerald-green water.
Every swimmer wore a bright yellow lifebuoy tied around their waist, part of strict safety measures enforced by a dozen lifeguards in high-visibility vests. The current was weak, just enough to tug gently at their limbs — a reminder that this is still a living, urban river.
'It's so nice to swim in the heart of the city, especially with the high temperatures we've been having lately,' said Amine Hocini, a 25-year-old construction worker from Paris. 'I'm surprised because I thought it was going to be cooler and in fact, it's much warmer than I thought.'
The return to swimming follows a 1.4 billion euro ($1.5 billion) cleanup project tied to last year's Olympics. Officials now say the Seine meets European water quality standards on most days. Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who already took a dip last year, was there Saturday morning, holding up a transparent bottle filled with river water as a show of confidence. Environmental authorities confirmed bacteria levels were well below official thresholds.
Swimming in the Seine had been illegal since 1923, with a few exceptions, due to pollution and risks posed by river navigation. Taking a dip outside bathing areas is still banned for safety reasons.
From the deck, tourists and morning joggers stopped to watch. Some applauded as swimmers climbed up the steel ladders, grinning and dripping. Others, like François Fournier, remained skeptical.
'I won't risk it quite frankly,' said Fournier, who lives atop the riverbanks and observed the scene from a bridge above. 'I've seen things you can't imagine floating in the Seine, so I'll wait for it to be really squeaky clean.'
Floating debris still bobbed here and there — a stray leaf, a plastic wrapper — but the smell was barely noticeable: no strong sewage odor, just an earthy, river-like scent.
'This is so chic, to swim in the Seine, next to Île Saint-Louis,' said Lucile Woodward, 43, a resident. 'There are some apprehensions, of course, any time you go to swim somewhere, but I think this is one of the most tested areas in the whole world now. I don't think the town hall can allow herself to have any problems.'
She added with a laugh: 'My skin is OK.'
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UPI
38 minutes ago
- UPI
Paris' Seine river opens to public swimming for first time in 100 years
1 of 6 | Paris officials spent $1.6 billion to clean up the Seine in time for last year's 2024 Olympics, but despite the cash infusion, some races had to be postponed because of water quality issues. File Photo by Paul Hanna/UPI | License Photo July 5 (UPI) -- The famed Seine river in Paris opened to the public for swimming on Saturday for the first time in over a 100 years, a key victory for outgoing mayor Anne Hidalgo. The waterway was last swimmable in 1923, with a ban in place since that year because high levels of bacteria made it unsafe for people. City officials spent $1.6 billion to clean up the river in time for last year's 2024 Olympic Games. Despite the cash infusion, some races had to be postponed because of water quality issues. In a show of confidence, Hidalgo herself famously took to the water ahead of the Olympics for a swim to prove the river was swimmable. "Swimming in the Seine, some have dreamed of it, many have doubted it, and we have done it," she said on Facebook at the time. "After a 100-year ban, athletes will take their turn in a few days during the Games! It will be next summer for Parisians." Hidalgo's prediction came true on a seasonal basis. Three designated swimming areas opened Saturday morning, each with lounging areas, outdoor furniture, showers and changing facilities, while lifeguards patrol the river. One of the swimming areas is not far from the Eiffel Tower, while a second is close to the Notre Dame Cathedral, which re-opened last year after a devastating fire. The third is in the eastern part of Paris. The mayor, who was elected in 2014 and will leave office next year after a failed bid at the presidency, has spent her time in office pushing green initiatives in the city. Water quality in the Seine has gradually improved over the last 20 years. At its lowest point, people swimming in the river would get sick because of the high bacteria count. Plans to re-open the Seine to public swimming have been circulating since former French President and then-Paris Mayor Jacques René Chirac campaigned on the promise in 1988. A planned race across the city was canceled in 2012 because the water was "manifestly insufficient quality for swimming."
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Parisians take a plunge in the Seine River after century-long ban
Cries of "It is warm!" rang out across the Seine on Saturday morning as Parisians took a plunge in the river for the first time in more than 100 years. The French capital's iconic waterway has been closed to swimmers since 1923, with few exceptions, due to pollution and risks posed by river navigation. After $1.5 billion cleanup project tied to last year's Olympics, officials say the Seine meets European water quality standards on most days. Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who already took a dip last year, was there Saturday morning, holding up a transparent bottle filled with river water as a show of confidence. Environmental authorities confirmed bacteria levels were well below official thresholds. "It's a childhood dream to have people swimming in the Seine," she said, according to AFP. The River Seine reopened to Parisian swimmers this morning for the first time since 1923, offering locals and tourists a welcome respite after scorching temperatures. MAGALI COHEN/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images Public swimming is allowed in designated areas of the Seine, including two newly built wooden decks near the Eiffel Tower and the Île Saint-Louis in central Paris. Before sunrise, a municipal officer skimmed away the last few patches of algae with a fishnet. Soon after, a line of eager Parisians formed, towels in hand, waiting for their chance to jump in. Woos and cries of joy echoed across the riverbanks as the first swimmers entered the emerald-green water. Every swimmer wore a bright yellow lifebuoy tied around their waist, part of strict safety measures enforced by a dozen lifeguards in high-visibility vests. The current was weak, just enough to tug gently at their limbs — a reminder that this is still a living, urban river. "It's so nice to swim in the heart of the city, especially with the high temperatures we've been having lately," said Amine Hocini, a 25-year-old construction worker from Paris. "I'm surprised because I thought it was going to be cooler and in fact, it's much warmer than I thought." Taking a dip outside the designated areas is still banned for safety reasons. Swimmers in the water at the Grenelle safe bathing site on the Seine river on its opening day, in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris on July 5, 2025. MAGALI COHEN/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images From the deck, tourists and morning joggers stopped to watch. Some applauded as swimmers climbed up the steel ladders, grinning and dripping. Others, like François Fournier, remained skeptical. "I won't risk it quite frankly," said Fournier, who lives atop the riverbanks and observed the scene from a bridge above. "I've seen things you can't imagine floating in the Seine, so I'll wait for it to be really squeaky clean." Floating debris still bobbed here and there — a stray leaf, a plastic wrapper — but the smell was barely noticeable: no strong sewage odor, just an earthy, river-like scent. "This is so chic, to swim in the Seine, next to Île Saint-Louis," said Lucile Woodward, 43, a resident. "There are some apprehensions, of course, any time you go to swim somewhere, but I think this is one of the most tested areas in the whole world now. I don't think the town hall can allow herself to have any problems." She added with a laugh: "My skin is OK." View from the Passerelle Simone de Beauvoir of the first people swimming in the Seine at the safe bathing site at Bercy on the Seine on its opening day in Paris France on July 5, 2025. BASTIEN OHIER/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images The promise to lift the swimming ban dates back to 1988, when then-mayor of Paris and future president, Jacques Chirac, first advocated for its reversal. "One of my predecessors, then mayor of Paris, dreamed of a Seine where everyone could swim," President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X, describing the move as the result of a "collective effort" and a moment of "pride" for France. With record-breaking temperatures hitting Europe, including France's second warmest June since records began in 1900, authorities said they expect Parisians to embrace the relief of a refreshing swim. The swimming spots will be open until August 31. contributed to this report.
Bloomberg
3 hours ago
- Bloomberg
Parisians Take a Historic Plunge Into the Seine After 100 Years
PARIS (AP) — Cries of 'It is warm!' rang out across the Seine on Saturday morning as Parisians jumped into the river — legally — for the first time in more than 100 years. Public swimming was allowed in designated areas of the Seine, including two newly built wooden decks near the Eiffel Tower and the Île Saint-Louis in central Paris. Before sunrise, a municipal officer skimmed away the last few patches of algae with a fishnet. Soon after, a line of eager Parisians formed, towels in hand, waiting for their chance to jump in.
