Latest news with #ParisPlages
CTV News
07-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Paris shuts Seine swim spots day after reopening
A woman dives in the water as people swim at the Pont Marie safe bathing site on the Seine river in Paris, France, Saturday, July 5, 2025, during the opening of the three Seine swimming pools, as part of the 'Paris Plages' event. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla) Rainfall on Sunday temporarily shut down three Seine swimming sites in Paris according to the city hall website, just one day after the river reopened to bathers for the first time in a century. Red flags flew over the three designated swimming zones in the French capital on Sunday, warning would-be bathers that the Seine was off-limits due to water quality concerns caused by the wet weather. The closures came just a day after the river's triumphant reopening, which capped a years-long effort to clean up the Seine, with bathers of all ages diving in for the first time since the practice was banned in 1923. But on rainy days, the mid-19th-century Parisian sewage system often overflows, causing rain and waste waters to pour into the river. To mitigate the risk, city officials said that the Seine would be assessed daily for the the presence of the faecal bacteria escherichia coli (E. coli) and enterococci. Flags inform bathers about pollution levels in the water every day, and if it rains, the sites will likely close the day after, said Paris city official Pierre Rabadan. Another site along the Canal St-Martin in eastern Paris was set to welcome its first swimmers on Sunday but remained closed over the rain, which 'compromises water quality', according to the local town hall on X. The seasonal opening of the Seine for swimming is seen as a key legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympics, when open-water swimmers and triathletes competed in its waters, which were specially cleaned for the event. Ahead of the Olympic Games, authorities invested approximately 1.4 billion euros (US$1.6 billion) in improving the Seine's water quality. Record rainfall during the Games led to the cancellation of six of the 11 competitions held on the river. 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, around 65 years after the practice was banned.
CTV News
05-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
Joyful Parisians take a historic plunge into the Seine after 100 years
A woman dives in the water as people swim at the Pont Marie safe bathing site on the Seine river in Paris, France, Saturday, July 5, 2025, during the opening of the three Seine swimming pools, as part of the 'Paris Plages' event. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla) PARIS — 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. 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.' Tom Nouvian, The Associated Press
Local France
05-07-2025
- Local France
French Word of the Day: Un transat
Why do I need to know transat? Because whether you're soaking up the sun on a Mediterranean beach or just enjoying a lazy afternoon in a Parisian park, you might find yourself sitting in one. What does it mean? Transat – roughly pronounced trahn-zat – is the French word for a deckchair or sun lounger. It's typically the folding canvas chair you'll find lined up at poolsides, beaches, and summer festivals across France. The word is a shortened version of chaise transatlantique – literally 'transatlantic chair' – referring to the reclining chairs used on early 20th-century ocean liners crossing the Atlantic. Advertisement The name stuck even after the chairs made their way to land, with the English version having the same origin as chairs that were on the deck of a ship. What hasn't changed is that transats are all about relaxation. You might rent one ( louer un transat ) for a few euros at a public beach, or drag one into your garden for a dose of vitamin D. During the summer months, French cities even set up free transats in public areas. Events like Paris Plages or riverside guinguettes often feature rows of these chairs inviting you to chill with a book or an apéro. Use it like this On va à la plage tôt pour réserver un transat – We're going to the beach early to grab a deckchair. J'ai passé toute la journée dans un transat avec un rosé bien frais – I spent the whole day in a deckchair with a nice chilled rosé.
Local France
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Local France
A Brazilian theme and Seine swimming - the 2025 Paris plages
The Paris Plages return this summer from Saturday, July 5th and run until August 31st - including three brand new swimming spots in the Seine. This year the beaches will have a Brazilian theme and will open along canal banks in northern Paris and on the banks of the Seine in the city centre. Swimming and activities are free. Where For the 24th edition of Paris Plages, the city will open swimming spots at Bras Marie (Paris 4th), Quai de Bercy (12th) and Bras de Grenelle (15th), where swim enthusiasts will be able to take a dip in the world famous Seine, 100 years after this was banned. Swimming is only allowed in the three designated spaces. READ ALSO : Where in Paris you can swim the Seine this summer✎ The usual beachside fun will also return to the banks of the Seine with a Brazilian theme - Brazilian food stands, DJ sets, movie screenings, samba and capoeira, to showcase the best of Brazilian beach culture. On top of that, an actual sand beach will be created along the Seine, with three sports fields for people to play beach volleyball. Advertisement The beach will return to the Bassin de la Villette in the 19th arrondissement, which includes a swimming pool that is open every afternoon, plus urban beach spaces, deck chairs and sunbathing spots, games and activities for children and adults and snack stalls. The beach will also be back along the Canal Saint-Martin in the 10th arrondissement, a repeat of the successful 'beach' spot established last year during the Olympics and Paralympics - people will be able play pétanque, relax in beach chairs and see art exhibitions. Swimming will also be possible, but only on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons. Find full details on open times and activities available in each spot here. Water quality The water quality of the Seine will be carefully measured each day at the bathing sites, where swimming will only be allowed if all safety standards are met. The city will follow a protocol set by the Regional Health Agency (ARS) and the Code de la santé publique, which includes laboratory tests, automated real-time monitoring, and expert analysis combined with environmental data. For the 2024 Summer Olympics, Paris spent €1.4 billion on cleaning up the Seine, a project that included the new Austerlitz rainwater basin and upgraded wastewater infrastructure. The Seine now typically meets European bathing water standards during dry, warm weather, although in the days after heavy rain the water can become unsafe for swimming.
France 24
03-07-2025
- France 24
Seine-sational swimming: Paris takes the plunge!
France 07:53 Issued on: Modified: From the show With the start of the annual "Paris Plages" event this weekend, the French capital is slated to open three areas of the River Seine to bathing. We take a look at where you can take a dip in its cool waters, which creepy-crawlies to look out for, and how this is part of a longtime push to make Paris a greener, more agreeable city.
