Seine River in Paris Now Swimmable: Fascinating Facts You Should Know

August 15, 2025 | 05:20 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Residents and tourists can finally legally swim in the Seine River in Paris, France. Since Saturday, July 5, 2025, the government has started opening three designated swimming areas. These locations are situated along the banks of the Seine, near the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, around the Eiffel Tower, and in the eastern part of Paris. Swimming in the Seine was prohibited for over 100 years due to high pollution levels.

Cleaning Costing 1.4 Billion Euros

Thanks to a massive 1.4 billion euro cleaning project ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics, the Seine River now meets European water quality standards. The Paris authorities have declared the water safe for public swimming in hot weather and in accordance with European Union standards.

"It’s a symbolic moment when we get our river back," said sports coach and influencer Lucile Woodward, who will participate in the first amateur open water swimming competition in the Seine River, as quoted by France 24.

Woodward had previously swum with Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo before the Olympics. Based on that experience, she is confident that everything will go smoothly. "We're going to enjoy swimming in it, being there and setting an example. Once people will see that in the end there are hundreds of people who have fun and enjoy it, everyone will want to go!" she said. "For families, going to take a dip with the kids, making little splashes in Paris, it’s extraordinary."

Seine River Water Checked Daily

Deputy Mayor Pierre Rabadan explained that the water quality of the Seine River is checked daily to ensure it is safe for swimming. Similar to beaches in France, flags are displayed to indicate whether visitors are allowed to enter the water. "Green means the water quality is good. Red means that it's not good or that there's too much current," he said.

Rabadan mentioned that since early June 2025, water test results have met European Union standards, with only two exceptions caused by rain and pollution from boat activities.

Dan Angelescu, CEO of Fluidion, a water monitoring technology company based in Paris and Los Angeles, has been conducting independent tests on bacteria levels in the Seine River for several years. According to him, although the results comply with current regulations, the testing methods used have limitations and do not accurately count the bacteria levels.

"What we see is that the water quality in the Seine is highly variable," said Angelescu. "There are only a few days in a swimming season where I would say water quality is acceptable for swimming."

River Name Derived from a Deity

According to Sortir Paris, the name Seine River is derived from the Celtic deity named Sequana, believed to inhabit the source of the spring. Above this source, a man-made cave was built in 1865 to serve as a shelter for a statue. The statue depicts the goddess Sequana, a graceful young woman standing on a boat. This work is a replica of Francois Jouffroy's creation, which, in its original version, features Sequana in a lying position.

Paris's Important Landscape

The Seine River flows from the eastern to the western part of Paris, stretching along 13 kilometers at an altitude of 26.72 meters above sea level. With a width of 30-200 meters and a depth of 3.4-5.7 meters, it is an important waterway for the city. Along its course, the river is crossed by 37 bridges, including four pedestrian bridges. Many of them have inspired romantic works about Paris, including Sous le Pont Mirabeau and Sous les Ponts de Paris.

Romans and Seine River Bridges

In the 1st century AD, the Romans built the first bridge over the Seine, replacing a wooden bridge that had been built by the Parisii tribe before the Roman conquest. The Petit Pont is a bridge that stretches over one of the arms of the Seine River. It connects the Ile de la Cite with Rue Saint-Jacques on the Left Bank. The Petit Pont is considered the first and oldest bridge in Paris. It has undergone numerous reconstructions over the centuries, yet it has retained its original name.

Paris City's Water Source

According to Britannica, the Seine River also plays a vital role as a water supply for the residents of Paris. In 1608, a water pump called Samaritaine was installed under Pont-Neuf to supply water to the Louvre Palace until 1813. In the Middle Ages, however, access to clean water was limited, forcing people to take water directly from rivers or purchase it from street vendors.

Entering the 19th century, Napoleon began construction on the Canal Saint-Martin and the Bassin de la Villette to supply water to public fountains throughout Paris. In addition to serving as a water source, the Seine River has become a popular recreational area for Parisians.

Karunia Putri and Mila Novita contributed to this article

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