After over 100 years of prohibition, the River Seine in Paris will finally open its waters to swimmers this summer. The long-polluted waterway underwent a €1.4 billion cleanup project that made it suitable for Olympic competitions last year.
Three new swimming sites have been created along the riverbank: one near Notre Dame Cathedral, another near the Eiffel Tower, and a third in eastern Paris. Swimming has been illegal since 1923 due to pollution and navigation risks, but water quality results consistently meet European regulations.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo will participate in an amateur open-water competition on Sunday, alongside sports coach Lucile Woodward. “We’re going to enjoy swimming in it,” Woodward said. “Once people see how fun it is, everyone will want to go!”
To ensure public safety, authorities have implemented a system with daily water quality tests and color-coded flags indicating whether swimmers can enter the water.
However, some experts, including Dan Angelescu of Fluidion, remain skeptical about the river’s water quality. “We see highly variable bacteria levels,” he said. Some Parisians share similar concerns, but others, like Clea Montanari, a project manager in Paris, are excited to experience swimming in the Seine.
Swimming sites will be open for free at scheduled times until August 31. Lifeguards will monitor the first dips to ensure public safety. While some long-term goals include making the Seine drinkable, the temporary opening marks an “opportunity, a dream come true” for many Parisians and tourists.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/05/europe/paris-historic-swim-seine-intl