On July 5, 2025, Parisians and visitors swam in the Seine River for the first time since 1923, following a major cleanup spurred by its use in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Three sites now host over 1,000 swimmers daily until August 31.
Three designated swimming sites along the Seine in Paris, near landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, opened to the public on July 5, 2025, accommodating over 1,000 swimmers daily, per Paris City Hall. Swimmers like Victoria Cnop, 24, praised the “clean, warm” water, while daily quality tests with green/red flags ensure safety, per France 24. Fourteen additional sites on the Seine and Marne rivers, two of which have been open since June, expand access.
Parisians have begun bathing in the Seine for the first time in over 100 years after a ban was lifted.
The French capital has created three swimming zones along the river as part of its Olympic legacy.https://t.co/HKrMG2iSSK pic.twitter.com/RDxu9FMtiE
— DW News (@dwnews) July 5, 2025A €1.4 billion cleanup project, which included connecting sewers for 20,000 homes and constructing rainwater storage reservoirs, improved the water quality of the Seine in preparation for the 2024 Olympic events, such as the triathlon, according to Le Figaro. Despite some delays caused by rain, the successful competitions boosted confidence, and E. coli levels are now below 900 CFU/100ml, meeting EU standards. This initiative, supported by President Macron, aims to ensure that public swimming facilities remain available after the Olympics.
Paris' River Seine reopens to swimmers after century-long ban
➡️ https://t.co/px4AqNnGLk pic.twitter.com/NDO0BFeMuB
— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) July 5, 2025Swimmers like Canadian John Drummond, 54, described the reopening as “wonderful” for the environment and the city, according to Reuters. The move, part of Paris’s €10 billion Olympic legacy, is expected to enhance tourism, with 15 million visitors anticipated in 2025, according to the Paris Tourism Board, and promote urban sustainability.
