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After more than a century, the Seine River regains its pulse in the heart of Paris

Madina - Follow-ups

Published: July 5, 2026 22:43 KSA

The French capital Paris reopened three swimming sites in the Seine River to the public, coinciding with the onset of a new heatwave, continuing a historic return of public swimming in the river after a ban lasting more than a century.

The Paris city council said on Saturday that the three swimming sites will remain open to the public until August 30, according to a translation by Sky News. The sites are located in prominent areas of the French capital: one near the Eiffel Tower, the second near Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the third near the National Library.

These sites were first opened last summer, marking the return of public swimming to the Seine for the first time in over a century, attracting about 100,000 people during the inaugural season. Authorities had banned swimming in the river since 1923, before investments totaling about 1.4 billion euros ($1.6 billion) paved the way for its return.

Heatwave Seine River