{"id":26238,"date":"2025-05-19T10:49:31","date_gmt":"2025-05-19T09:49:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.france-hotel-guide.com\/en\/blog\/?p=26238"},"modified":"2025-05-19T11:03:51","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T10:03:51","slug":"swimming-returns-to-the-seine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.france-hotel-guide.com\/en\/blog\/swimming-returns-to-the-seine\/","title":{"rendered":"Swimming Returns to the Seine After 100 Years \u2014 Starting This July"},"content":{"rendered":"

After more than a century, swimming in the Seine River in Paris is finally coming back. Starting July 5, 2025, three official sites will open in the heart of the city.<\/p>\n

This is part of a major project launched before the Olympic Games to clean the river and offer new ways to enjoy Paris.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A Century-Long Ban Ends in Paris<\/h2>\n
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Credits: Ville de Paris<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Swimming in the Seine was once a popular summer activity for Parisians. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, floating bathhouses lined the riverbanks.<\/p>\n

People would dive from platforms or sunbathe near the water.<\/p>\n

But over time, the water became too polluted. By the 1920s, most official bathing spots had closed.<\/p>\n

In 1923, swimming in the river was completely banned in Paris for public health reasons.<\/p>\n

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Credits: Ville de Paris<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Since then, many mayors have promised to bring back swimming. But no plan ever moved forward \u2014 until recently.<\/p>\n

But before the 2024 Olympic Games, the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, promised that people would be able to swim in the river again.<\/p>\n

During the Olympics, the Seine hosted open-water swimming and triathlon events. Now, that promise is becoming a reality for the public too.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A Bold Promise for the Olympics<\/h3>\n
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Olympics 2024<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In 2016, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo made a big announcement: if Paris won the bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games, the city would clean up the Seine and make it safe to swim again \u2014 both for athletes and for the public.<\/p>\n

Many were skeptical at first.<\/p>\n

The river had been polluted for decades, with wastewater, old pipes, and boat discharges making the water unsafe.<\/p>\n

But Hidalgo stuck to her plan.<\/p>\n

When the city won the Olympics, the river cleanup became a major goal. She even made a symbolic swim in the Seine in 2024, jumping in to show the water quality had improved.<\/p>\n

During the Games in 2024, the Seine hosted open-water swimming and triathlon events. That moment was historic. It proved that the river could be clean enough for use \u2014 and helped pave the way for regular people to be allowed in, too.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Where and When Can People Swim?<\/h2>\n

Starting July 5, 2025<\/b>, swimming will officially be allowed in the Seine River in three supervised locations across Paris<\/b>.<\/p>\n

The swimming season will run until August 31<\/b>. All sites will be free to access and open to the public.<\/p>\n

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Swimming area at Bras Marie – Credits: Ville de Paris<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Three Swimming Zones in Paris<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Quai de Bercy (12th arrondissement)<\/b>
    \n<\/b> Located in eastern Paris, this site will offer a large open-air swimming area right by the riverbank. It\u2019s one of the newly developed spots meant to give people access to a cooler, greener space during hot summer months.<\/li>\n
  2. Bras de Grenelle (15th arrondissement)<\/b>
    \n<\/b> Found near the Eiffel Tower and Beaugrenelle area, this is the only site that will include a shallow pool with a bottom, making it suitable for children and families. It\u2019s designed to be the most accessible for all ages.<\/li>\n
  3. Bras Marie (across from \u00cele Saint-Louis, center of Paris)<\/b>
    \n<\/b> This central location will offer an unforgettable setting right in the heart of Paris. However, it will only be temporary. Because the space is shared with boat traffic and sightseeing cruises, this site will be open only in the mornings and on Sundays all day. City officials are already planning to find a more permanent replacement site by summer 2026.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n

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     <\/p>\n

    Crowd Limits and Entry<\/h3>\n

    To ensure safety and comfort, the number of swimmers will be limited at each site:<\/p>\n