The Seine has been in the news a lot lately... It's at the heart of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games: from the opening ceremony to the swimming events, the Parisian river is set to host several important elements of this global event.
In preparation for these events, a majorclean-up operation is underway on theSeine. To ensure the safety of swimmers, the river is being cleaned, but with great difficulty. One year ahead of the Games, the Seine is still considered too dangerous and polluted. Test swimming events, scheduled for early August 2023, have been cancelled due to poor water quality. The possibility of swimming in the Seine therefore remains theoretical for the time being.
Paris 2024 Olympic Games: the triathlon takes place this Wednesday, July 31!
The men's triathlon event, originally scheduled for 8am on Tuesday July 30, has been postponed to Wednesday July 31, 2024. It's been confirmed that the Seine has been deemed compliant, and both the men's and women's events will now take place on Wednesday morning. Tuesday ticket holders will be reimbursed. [Read more]
But why is it currently impossible to swim in the Seine? What are the risks involved? Swimming in the Seine has been officially banned by the French government since 1923. Back in 1988, Jacques Chirac, then Mayor of Paris, launched the idea of cleaning up the river, so that Parisians could once again swim in its waters. " (...) That's why I've said that a river can be made clean, and I've also said that in three years' time, I'll go swimming in the Seine in front of witnesses to prove that the Seine has become a clean river ", he promised at the time, as recalled by France Info.
35 years later, the Seine remains highly polluted, and is still off-limits to bathers. A 15-euro fine awaits offenders... As well as a number of health problems.
The reason the Paris river is off-limits to bathers is to protect the health of its inhabitants. Many diseases can be caught in these waters. Bacteria present in the Seine cause gastro-enteritis and urinary tract infections. There's also leptospirosis, a disease transmitted by the urine and corpses of rodents, often found in sewers. Faecal matter, pesticides, nitrates, waste poured into the Seine: a whole cocktail of pollutants turns the river into a nest of bacteria.
What's more, the Seine is a busy waterway, used by tourist boats as well as commercial and construction vessels. Swimming is therefore dangerous in more ways than one.
However, the authorities remain hopeful that the Seine will soon be cleaned up." The Plan Baignade aims to improve water quality in the Seine and Marne rivers, enhance biodiversity and make bathing possible. It will have eliminated 75% of the river's bacteriological pollution by the time of the Games ", assures the website of the Île-de-France prefecture. In the meantime, you can still swim laps in the region's pools.
Swimming in the Seine and the Marne is staging a big comeback this summer, with eight supervised sites, including three in Paris and a brand-new spot in Seine-Saint-Denis. They welcome bathers from June 20 for some, and July 4 for others, through the end of August 2026. [Read more]
As soon as the heat returns, we look for a pool (ideally with a beach area or sun loungers) or a waterside spot to swim! To feel like you’re on vacation without spending a dime, check out the best spots to bring your family and friends to Paris and Île-de-France, free of charge. [Read more]
Paris 2024 Olympic Games: the triathlon takes place this Wednesday, July 31!
Swimming in Paris and Île-de-France this summer 2026, eight sites, five of which are free, along the Seine and the Marne
Free pools and swimming spots in Paris and Île-de-France in 2026 — the summer’s best deals
