Paris, France – Parisians on Sunday, July 6, 2025, joyfully swam in the Seine River, marking the first time the waterway has been opened to the public for swimming since 1923. Videos of numerous people taking a dip in the iconic river were widely shared across social media platforms.
Local officials reportedly anticipate over 1,000 swimmers daily at three designated bathing sites along the river through the city until August 31.
Pierre Rabadan, Deputy Mayor of Paris, expressed his delight at the successful reclamation of the river. “We are happy to have recovered the river,” Rabadan stated. He detailed the extensive efforts undertaken as part of the river’s purification project, which included connecting tens of thousands of households previously discharging wastewater directly into the river to the sewage system. Additionally, new projects for purifying the river water were implemented. To prevent pollution from rainwater runoff, large-scale rainwater retention tanks were constructed. These multifaceted initiatives were crucial in France’s efforts to rejuvenate the river.
During the swimming season, the water quality of the river will be monitored daily. Similar to beach safety measures, green and red flags will be displayed to indicate whether the swimming areas are open or closed to the public, Rabadan added. Plans are also in place to establish approximately 14 bathing sites across the Seine and Marne rivers.
