21-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Paris welcomes swimmers back to the Seine after a century-long wait
The Seine in Paris, France, is open again for public swimming. This is the first time in over a hundred years that bathers can take a dip in the famed river. The Seine had been closed to the public since 1923 – more than a century.
A 95-year-old Parisian was among the first to take the plunge at a newly opened swimming zone in the east of the French capital.
It is one of three sites in the city where visitors can officially hop in the Seine. The swimming zones come with changing rooms, showers and beach-style furniture.
The river was specially cleaned for the 2024 summer Olympics in Paris, where it was used by open-water swimmers and triathletes.
Now, around 150 to 300 people can relax, lay out their towels and unwind from the city's hustle and bustle.
