Good news, folks! Paris has decided to lift the century-long ban and has opened the River Seine for public swimming. For the first time since 1923, three sites in the city, along the banks of the Seine, are set to welcome swimmers. On Saturday, dozens of Parisians arrived ahead of the opening and dived into the water when they were able to do so.
After A Century-Long Ban, Paris Allows Public Swimming In River Seine
According to the BBC, three key sites along the banks of the River Seine will see over 1,000 swimmers daily until August 31. On Saturday, Paris opened three sites to allow people to swim in the famous river–near Notre Dame Cathedral, near the Eiffel Tower, and the third in eastern Paris.
These three spots have changing rooms, showers, and furniture, allowing up to 300 people to lay out their towels and enjoy the Paris weather in the summer. Paris residents who took the first swim in the River Seine were quite impressed with the management and the cleanliness of the river. They called the water “clean and warm”, albeit with some algae, but that’s something you’d expect in a river.
While addressing the media, Pierre Rabadan, Paris’ Deputy Mayor, said that the river’s reopening has “proved the sceptics wrong” and the authorities were able to deliver on the commitments and achieve something “very big and very complicated.”
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Cleaning Began As Part Of Preparation For Paris Olympics Last Year
The reopening of the River Seine for public swimming comes after major efforts by French authorities to improve the river’s water quality for the Paris Olympics 2024. Ahead of the Olympics, France spent more than €1.4bn to clean up the river. However, many concerns were raised after it failed water quality tests.
Reports suggest that the promise to lift the public swimming ban on the River Seine dates back to 1988. There have been significant improvements in the last 20 years, with a sharp reduction in faecal bacteria entering the river. The swimming ban was initially put in place as the high pollution level of the river was considered unsuitable for swimming.
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So, if you’re planning to visit Paris soon, make sure you stop by the River Seine, and maybe take a dip!
Cover Image Courtesy: X/@karatademada & Canva Pro/Nikada
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