After more than a century, the iconic River Seine has officially reopened to public swimming, fulfilling a long-held dream for Parisians and marking a monumental victory for urban environmental rehabilitation. The historic moment, celebrated with joyous splashes and a palpable sense of triumph, signifies the culmination of decades of ambitious clean-up efforts and an enduring promise linked to the upcoming Olympic Games.
The first public swim since 1923 took place today, with Mayor Anne Hidalgo herself taking a symbolic plunge into the famously murky waters, alongside other dignitaries and jubilant residents. The event, held under tight security and amidst sweltering summer temperatures, drew crowds to the banks, eager to witness history in the making.
“This is an extraordinary moment for Paris! It is a return to our history, a return to our heritage,” declared Mayor Hidalgo, emerging from the water to cheers. “It is proof that when we work together, when we invest in our environment, we can achieve the impossible.”
The reopening of the Seine to swimmers is not merely a nostalgic gesture; it is the direct result of a €1.4 billion ($1.5 billion) investment project launched by the city and national government. This colossal undertaking has involved upgrading sewage systems, building massive underground storage basins to prevent overflow during heavy rains, and implementing strict pollution controls on riverboats and surrounding industries.
For decades, the Seine was a symbol of urban pollution, its waters deemed unsafe for human contact due to high levels of fecal bacteria from overflowing sewers and industrial waste. The ban on swimming, imposed in 1923, became an ingrained part of Parisian life.
The impetus for this massive clean-up accelerated with Paris’s successful bid to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Seine is slated to host the open-water swimming and triathlon events, making its cleanliness a crucial promise to the International Olympic Committee. While a few Olympic test events were held last year, today marks the first official public access for recreational swimming.
Three designated public bathing areas are initially being opened: Bras Marie, Grenelle, and Bercy, all equipped with changing facilities, showers, and safety measures. Lifeguards will be on duty during designated swimming hours, and water quality will be continuously monitored.
“It feels surreal to be able to swim here,” said Jean-Luc Dubois, a lifelong Parisian who remembered stories of his grandparents swimming in the river. “For so long, it was just something you looked at. Now, it’s something we can be a part of again. It gives you hope for what else is possible.”
While environmentalists laud the achievement as a model for other polluted urban waterways, they caution that vigilance is still required to maintain water quality, especially during extreme weather events. The city has also launched public awareness campaigns to encourage responsible use of the river.
Today, however, the mood in Paris was one of unbridled celebration. The reopening of the Seine to swimmers is more than just an environmental triumph; it is a profound reclamation of a vital part of the city’s identity, symbolizing a cleaner future and a renewed connection between Parisians and their beloved river.