Paris opens three Seine swimming sites for second summer, drawing crowds amid heatwave

Parisians and tourists returned to the Seine on Saturday as three free, supervised swimming sites reopened for the summer, a direct legacy of the 2024 Olympics. The sites at Grenelle (with a view of the Eiffel Tower), Bercy in eastern Paris, and Bras Marie in the city center will remain open until 30 August, depending on water quality and weather.

A century-long ban lifted

After a 100-year prohibition, swimming in the Seine became possible again following the 2024 Olympics, which drove a €1.4 billion investment in sewer upgrades and rainwater storage. The ban, in place since 1923, was lifted as water quality improved dramatically. Last summer, the three sites attracted nearly 100,000 visitors, though some days were canceled due to heavy rain. The number of fish species in the river has rebounded from just three to over 30, and three endangered mussel species have been discovered.

Water quality and safety

Water quality is tested multiple times a day, and a flag system (green, orange, red) informs swimmers of conditions. Access is free and no reservation is needed, but capacity is limited, 200 people at the Grenelle site, with a real-time waiting system. Swimmers must use a yellow float provided free of charge due to the current, and children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. The minimum height is 1.20 meters.

Visitor reactions

It's amazing to be swimming in the Seine while looking at the Eiffel Tower. Maybe it's not as good as the sea in Australia, but it's better than our rivers.

It's better than the pool, it's not quite the beach but it gives a feeling of already being a little on vacation.

Look at this water, the Eiffel Tower is in the background. Honestly, can it be more beautiful than this?

I was a little scared, but there are tests done every morning. I'm careful, I don't swallow the water. It's secure, so it's fine.

Olympic legacy and heatwave relief

The reopening coincides with a heatwave that has already prompted the early opening of the Canal Saint-Martin in mid-June. The three Seine sites, at Grenelle (Eiffel Tower), Bercy (eastern Paris), and Bras Marie (central Paris), will remain open until 30 August, weather permitting. The initiative, a direct legacy of the Paris 2024 Games, has turned the river into a summer attraction for both locals and tourists.