The Seine River in Paris Reopens to Swimmers After a Century-Long Ban

The seasonal reopening of the Seine River for swimming is seen as a major legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympics. During the Games, open water swimmers and triathletes competed in specially cleaned waters of the Seine.

There are now three designated public swimming areas in the river — one near the Eiffel Tower, another close to Notre Dame Cathedral, and a third in eastern Paris.

These zones feature changing rooms, showers, and beach-style furniture, accommodating up to 300 people at a time.

Until the end of August, all three areas will be free to access during set hours and open to the public from age 10 or 14, depending on location.

Lifeguards will be stationed in all zones, and they themselves will also be monitored for safety compliance.

The promise to lift the swimming ban dates back to 1988, when then-Mayor of Paris and future President Jacques Chirac first advocated for reopening the river.

Over the past 20 years, significant improvements have led to a drastic reduction in fecal bacteria levels entering the Seine.

Can you really swim in the Seine?

For 100 years, swimming in the river was banned due to pollution levels that posed a serious health risk.

Ahead of last summer's Olympic Games, over €1.4 billion was invested to clean up the Seine.

However, as the Games approached, water quality tests failed, raising concerns over whether the river was ready for Olympic events.

Organizers blamed increased pollution levels on heavy rainfall, which limited the ability of athletes training for triathlon, marathon swimming, and paratriathlon events.

In July, to prove it was safe, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and other members of the Olympic Committee publicly took a swim in the Seine.

Source: BBC