The River Seine reopened to swimmers in Paris on Saturday morning, marking the first time since 1923 that bathers could take a dip in the iconic waterway following a years-long cleanup effort. The swimming spots are open to the public for free until August 31. The opening comes after the French capital during the week endured a major heatwave that also hit other parts of Europe and saw Paris put on the weather agency’s highest alert level.

A few dozen people of all ages arrived ahead of the 8:00 am (0600 GMT) opening of the Bras Marie swimming zone – one of three open in Paris this summer – donning swim caps and goggles as they prepared to dive in and celebrate the long-awaited return of bathing in the Seine.

“I thought it would be freezing cold but it’s actually great,” said Karine, 51, a care worker from southeast of Paris, and one of the first to jump in.

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.

“It’s a childhood dream to have people swimming in the Seine,” said Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, who visited the site in the city’s historic centre near the Ile Saint-Louis.

“Look at how happy everyone is,” she said with a smile.

Cooling off

Parisians and visitors looking to cool off this summer can take the plunge – weather permitting – under the watchful eye of lifeguards in fluorescent yellow T-shirts at the three bathing sites, including one a stone’s throw from the Eiffel Tower.

The swimming zones are equipped with changing rooms, showers, and beach-style furniture, offering space for 150 to 300 people to relax, lay out their towels, and unwind from the city’s hustle and bustle.

Paris officials say they have taken several measures to ensure swimmers can safely enjoy the long-anticipated reopening, including daily water pollution testing and implementing a swim test for bathers.

“The water quality is “exceptional”, said Marc Guillaume, the prefect for the Ile-de France region that includes Paris.

“We are monitoring two bacteria, E. coli and enterococci, and for one we are ten times below the thresholds and for the other more than 25 times below,” he said.

But risks remain…

But officials reminded swimmers of potential dangers, including strong currents, boat traffic, and an average depth of 3.5 metres (11 feet).

“The Seine remains a dangerous environment,” said local official Elise Lavielle earlier this week.

To mitigate that risk, lifeguards will assess visitors’ swimming abilities before allowing independent access, while a decree issued in late June introduced fines for anyone swimming outside designated areas.

The promise to lift the swimming ban dates back to 1988, when then-mayor of Paris and future president Jacques Chirac first advocated its reversal, around 65 years after the practice was banned in 1923.

‘More peaceful life’

“One of my predecessors (Chirac), then mayor of Paris, dreamed of a Seine where everyone could swim,” President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X, describing the move as the result of a “collective effort” and a moment of “pride” for France.

Ahead of the Olympic Games, authorities invested approximately 1.4 billion euros ($1.6 billion) to improve the Seine’s water quality.

Since then, work carried out upstream promises even better water quality – with one catch.

On rainy days, the mid-19th-century Parisian sewage system often overflows, causing rain and waste waters to pour into the river.

Flags will 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.

Swimmers may be in luck this year, though, with weather predicted to be drier than the record rainfall during the Games, which led to the cancellation of six of the 11 competitions held on the river.

Hidalgo, who took the inaugural swim last year, said that cleaning up the Seine for the Olympics was not the final goal but part of a broader effort to adapt the city to climate change and enhance quality of life.

“Heatwaves are only going to increase”, the Paris mayor said, adding creating safe swim spaces will foster a “happier, and undoubtedly more peaceful life with our fellow citizens”.

One of the swimmers on Saturday expressed gratitude for the Seine’s re-opening.

“Thank you, Ms. Hidalgo. This is so cool,” the bather shouted from the water.

The River Seine in the French capital Paris has reopened for swimming for the first time since 1923 after a century-long ban, UNN reports with reference to the BBC.

Details

The seasonal opening of the Seine for swimming is seen as a key legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympics, where open water swimmers and triathletes competed in its waters, which were specially cleaned for the event.

On Saturday morning at 08:00 local time, several dozen swimmers arrived for the opening and dived into the water when they were able to.

The Seine has three specially designated public swimming areas – one near the Eiffel Tower, another near Notre Dame Cathedral, and a third in eastern Paris.

The zones are equipped with changing rooms, showers, and beach furniture, allowing up to 300 people to lay out towels.

Until the end of August, the three bathing spots will be open free of charge at set times for everyone aged 10 or 14 and over, depending on the location.

Lifeguards will also monitor those in the river.

Addition

The promise to lift the swimming ban was made back in 1988, when then-Mayor of Paris and future President Jacques Chirac first advocated for its repeal.

For 100 years, swimming in the river was prohibited due to water pollution, which could cause illness in people. Improvements over the past 20 years have already led to a sharp reduction in the amount of fecal bacteria entering the river.

More than 1.4 billion euros were invested in cleaning the Seine ahead of the Summer Olympics.

However, ahead of the games, doubts arose about the readiness of the River Seine for the Olympics after it was revealed that it had failed a water quality test.

Organizers blamed rainfall for increased pollution, which limited athletes’ ability to train for triathlon, marathon swimming, and paratriathlon.

Last July, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and other members of the Olympic Committee went to the Seine to prove that it was safe to swim in.

Olympics 2024: triathlon training canceled due to muddy Seine

By Manuel Ausloos

PARIS (Reuters) -Parisians rushed for a dip in the Seine on Saturday as the authorities opened the river to public swimming for the first time since 1923 after an extensive clean-up operation spurred on by it being used as a venue in the Paris Olympics.

Three sites along the banks of the Seine in the city will be able to welcome over 1,000 swimmers daily until August 31, local officials said.

“We’re especially happy to have proved the sceptics wrong and to be able to deliver on the commitments we initially made, on something that was very big and very complicated to achieve,” said Pierre Rabadan, Paris deputy mayor for the Seine river.

The reopening of the Seine for public swimming follows efforts by authorities to improve its water quality so it could be used for Olympic events last summer.

Investments included connecting tens of thousands of homes to the sewer system, upgrading water treatment facilities, and constructing large rainwater storage reservoirs to prevent sewer overflow during heavy storms.

While delays, triggered by the health impact of heavy rains, impacted some Olympic training sessions and the men’s triathlon event, competitions in the Seine eventually went ahead, bolstering confidence in the river’s safety for public swimming.

Daily water quality tests will be conducted during the swimming season, with green and red flags – similar to beach safety systems – indicating whether swimming areas are open or closed.

“Obviously, if we open the swimming area it is because the water complies with the regulations, it poses absolutely no danger to the people who go swimming,” Rabadan told Reuters.

As well as the three sites within Paris, 14 swimming areas outside the capital’s boundaries will be set up on the Seine and the Marne rivers. Two of those already opened on the Marne in June.

(Reporting by Manuel Ausloos; Editing by Ingrid Melander and Alison Williams)

The Seine River welcomed swimmers on Saturday, marking a historic moment since its public closure in 1923. After extensive clean-up efforts tied to its role in the Paris Olympics, three sites in the city will now host over 1,000 swimmers daily through August 31.

Local inhabitants and tourists flocked to take the plunge. ‘Really nice, I’m impressed,’ remarked Victoria Cnop, a Brazilian living in Paris, while others expressed amazement over clean, warm water near iconic landmarks. This move follows comprehensive measures to boost water quality, including enhanced sewer connections and infrastructure upgrades.

Daily water quality assessments will guide safe swimming decisions, while additional public swimming areas will expand to the Seine and Marne rivers. The program promises substantial benefits for urban living, environment, and local communities.

(With inputs from agencies.)