Paris opens river Seine for public swimming for first time since 1923
- Paris reopened the Seine River for public swimming on July 5, 2025, for the first time since bathing was banned in 1923.
- This reopening followed a €1.4 billion cleanup aimed at making the river safe for the 2024 Olympic swimming events and public use.
- Three free, lifeguard-supervised swimming sites opened near the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and eastern Paris, accessible by age 10 or 14 depending on the site, until August 31.
- Officials test water daily and use a color-coded flag system to signal swimming safety, but scientists warn water quality varies and official tests may not capture all risks.
- The reopening reflects Paris's dedication to improving the river's ecological health and creating a lasting Olympic impact, though many locals remain cautious about swimming due to ongoing concerns about water pollution.
390 Articles
390 Articles
Paris Reopens Seine for Swimming—Then Closes It the Next Day
Just one day after the Seine was reopened to swimmers for the first time in over a century, access has been shut down again. Predictably, the issue was one of water quality and, by extension, safety. About 3,000 nervous-looking swimmers took to the water on Saturday, July 5th, using three designated public areas and their adjacent changing rooms and showers, and even beach-style furniture. Promises to reopen the river go back to 1988, but to dat…
Paris opens Seine River for public swimming for first time since 1923
Parisians rushed for a dip in the Seine on Saturday as 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 last year as a venue in the Paris Olympics.
Paris shuts Seine swim spots day after reopening
The closures came just a day after the river's triumphant reopening, which capped a years-long effort to clean up the Seine, with bathers of all ages diving in for the first time since the practice was banned in 1923.
The hazards of the weather cause a first closure of the bathing in the Seine, until Monday 7 July included. The day after its opening, the waters of Paris could, in fact, be already unfit because of the heavy rains.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 40% of the sources are Center
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium