The Daily Populous Sunday July 6th, 2025 morning edition
Authored by p.dw.com and submitted by Klopsawq

Parisians have begun bathing in the Seine for the first time in over 100 years after a ban was lifted. The French capital has created three swimming zones along the river as part of its Olympic legacy.

France's capital Paris reopened the Seine River to swimmers on Saturday for the first time in over a century.

AFP news agency said dozens of swimmers were present for the opening at 8:00 a.m. (0600 UTC/GMT), diving into the water under the watchful eye of lifeguards.

The move is part of the legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympics and comes amid sweltering temperatures across Europe, including France's second-warmest June since records began.

Parisians make a splash in the Seine after century-old ban To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

Where will Parisians be allowed to swim?

Paris authorities have created three outdoor pool zones, complete with changing rooms and showers and supervised by lifeguards.

The pools are located opposite L'île aux Cygnes (Swan Island) near the Eiffel Tower, close to Notre-Dame Cathedral and opposite the Bibliotheque national de France.

The swimming zones also have beach-style furniture, offering space for 150 to 300 people to sunbathe.

Access to the pools will be free of charge until August 31st.

A statement from the city government said water quality will be continuously monitored.

Authorities said lifeguards would assess visitors' swimming abilities, particularly due to strong currents, an average depth of 3.5 meters (11 feet) and boat traffic.

The first swimmers took a dip on Saturday morning Image: Julien De Rosa/AFP/dpa/picture alliance/dpa

Why was swimming in the Seine banned?

Bathing in the Seine was officially banned in 1923, primarily due to health risks from pollution.

The river has historically been contaminated with high levels of bacteria, such as E. coli and enterococci, from sewage overflows, industrial discharge, and urban runoff.

These pollutants pose significant risks of illness for swimmers, including skin infections and gastrointestinal issues.

Additionally, strong currents, boat traffic, and debris in the river create hazardous conditions for bathers.

Despite being illegal, swimming was still practised until the early 1960s and there have been several attempts to remove the ban.

In 1988, then-Paris mayor and future president Jacques Chirac first advocated for its reversal.

A secure pool for families and children has been created next to the river Image: Nicolas Rongier/Hans Lucas/AFP/Getty Images

Why lift the ban on bathing?

Authorities promised ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics that the water in the Seine would be cleaned up to allow athletes to compete in its waters.

Around €1.4 billion ($1.6 billion) was spent on improving water quality, which officials promised would benefit not just the Olympic athletes but residents and tourists for years to come.

A massive underground storage tank was created to hold wastewater and prevent untreated sewage from entering the river during heavy rain. Wastewater treatment plants were also upgraded.

During the games, the river hosted the triathlon swimming legs and open water swimming events. However, the swims weren't without controversy, as some athletes fell sick afterward.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has said that cleaning up the Seine for the Olympics was part of a broader effort to adapt the city to climate change and enhance quality of life.

"Everyone should be able to swim in the Seine starting this summer," said French Sports Minister Marie Barsacq when the move was announced in May.

Ahead of Saturday's launch, French President Emmanuel Macron praised the work undertaken to open the swimming zones, writing on X that it was a "source of pride for the country."

riskyrofl on July 6th, 2025 at 00:53 UTC »

I would let others test it out first, but I've read a lot about how the Paris government have tried to make the city greener, more walkable, more environmentally clean. A lot of interesting stuff happening

beachhike on July 6th, 2025 at 00:15 UTC »

Kramer is gonna be stoked

Otaraka on July 5th, 2025 at 23:49 UTC »

For the first time in a century its not insane to be in Seine.

Results may vary.