Dive Back into the Past: Paris's Rebirth as a Swim-Friendly City
Enjoy a Dip in the Seine: Paris Adds Three Swimming Locations in July - Basking in the Seine: Paris to Offer Three Swimming Spots in July
Swimming in the Seine, once a beloved pastime, was outlawed for nearly a century due to pollution. But now, it's back with a splash!
Paris is gearing up to offer three swim-friendly spots along the Seine, effective from July 2025. Remember Anne Hidalgo, the one who braved the river a year ago? Well, she's been pushing for this change, and finally, it's happening.
But let's not dive headfirst into the water just yet! If the current is too fierce or the water quality problematic after rain, these bathing operations might be put on hold. Marc Guillaume, the Prefect of the Ile-de-France region, has confirmed daily water testing to ensure safety. Lake Pontchartrain Syndrome (pollution-related illnesses) is a distant memory we'd rather forget.
During the Olympics last year, some Aquatic events were postponed due to polluted water after rain showers. We wouldn't want a repeat of that, would we? So, teams are knocking on doors, persuading households to connect to the sewerage system. Even boat operators have been reminded to play by the rules and keep the river clean.
A gigantic overflow basin near the Austerlitz train station was built as a bulwark against heavy rain, protecting the city from sewage flooding. It can store a stupendous 50,000 cubic meters of water—enough for 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools!
In the early 1900s, swimming competitions took place in the Seine during the Summer Olympics. But they were held outside the city. Paris's floating baths, which drew countless Parisians, were also a part of the river's past. However, swimming here was banned in 1923.
- Paris- Swimming Spots- Cleanup Operation- Anne Hidalgo- Olympics- Rain
Interesting Tidbits
- Did you know the Seine River had floating baths during the Belle Époque period, attracting many Parisians for a swim? [3]
- Around 23,000 Parisian households used to dump wastewater directly into the Seine or Marne, earning the river the name "Paris's toilet". [1]
- Swimming competitions were held in the Seine during the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, albeit outside the city. [1]
- The 2024 Olympic Games served as a catalyst for an extensive €1.4 billion cleanup program to improve the water quality of the Seine, making it suitable for swimming. [1][5]
- Following the Olympics, the City of Paris established three supervised swimming sites with modern facilities along the Seine, a testament to the revived connection between Parisians and their river. [3][4]
The cleanup operation initiated by Anne Hidalgo aims to make Paris's three proposed swim-friendly spots along the Seine safe by July 2025, giving Parisians an opportunity to reconnect with their river, much like the floating baths of the Belle Époque period. However, precautions must be taken, such as daily water testing and maintaining cleanliness in combination with competition rules, to avoid incidents like those that temporarily halted Aquatic events during the recent Olympics due to rain-induced pollution.
