Key Facts
• July 5, 2025: Swimming in the Seine River reopened after 100 years.
• Ban since 1923 due to water quality issues; lifted after extensive purification efforts.
• Three designated swimming zones in Paris now open to the public.
• Facilities include changing rooms, showers, and space for 150–300 people.
• Daily water quality checks ensure safety; zones may close after heavy rain.
• Paris invested €1.4 billion (~$2.38 billion) in water quality improvements.
• 2024 Paris Olympics used the Seine as a venue, highlighting its legacy.
• French President Emmanuel Macron called the reopening a “collective achievement” and “pride.”
• Free public access to swimming areas until August 31, 2025.
• Rainfall risks overflow of 19th-century sewer systems, potentially polluting the river.
Summary
Swimming in Paris’s Seine River resumed on July 5, 2025, for the first time in a century, following significant water purification efforts. The ban, in place since 1923 due to poor water quality, was lifted after €1.4 billion (~$2.38 billion) was invested in improvements. Three swimming zones with modern facilities are now open, with free access until August 31, 2025. Daily water quality checks ensure safety, though heavy rain may temporarily close the areas due to risks of pollution from the city’s aging sewer system. The reopening is part of the 2024 Paris Olympics legacy, with French President Emmanuel Macron celebrating it as a “collective achievement” and a source of national pride.
