'Wonderful:' Parisians, tourists gleeful as Seine opens to bathing
Mayor Anne Hidalgo, French Sports Minister Marie Barsacq and other prominent faces celebrated the reopening of the famous river to bathing.
Three outdoor pools have been set up: one opposite L'île aux Cygnes (Swan Island) near the Eiffel Tower, one near Notre-Dame Cathedral and one opposite the national library.
The pools are accessible free of charge throughout the summer.
Water quality is to be continuously monitored, as swimmers will dive directly into river water, a statement from the city said.
The swimming locations feature changing rooms and showers, are supervised by lifeguards and offer space for sunbathing, the statement added.
A German exchange student was among the first to have a dip in the Seine in front of the Eiffel Tower on Saturday.
Juliane, from Munich, said the scene was "wonderful" and that the water was warm, adding that she was unconcerned about the water quality.
"Of course there are could be a few bacteria in there, but if is being measured, then it can't be that bad," she told dpa.
Véronique, a French pensioner, said she hopes that the new swimming facilities will not only please Parisians. "I hope that lots of tourists will come here, it's also free. They can then say 'I swam in the Seine,' it's sensational."
Hidalgo said the pools were an attempt to improve the quality of life in the French capital in view of the expected rise in summer temperatures due to climate change.
Bathing in the Seine was officially banned in 1923, but swimming was still practised until the early 1960s.
The Seine was the site of the triathlon swimming legs and open water swimming in the 2024 Paris Olympics after more than €1 billion ($1.2 billion) was spent to improve water quality.
Also on Saturday, the city's public beaches along the river reopened for the summer with a variety of leisure and cultural activities for residents and tourists.
"Paris Plages" transforms the banks of the Seine over several kilometres into an open-air paradise with beach bars, deckchairs, boules courts and sports activities.
The urban beaches with large sandy areas provide relaxation with stunning view of the Parisian sights.
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