Free swimming in Val-de-Marne: Jardin du Beach opens its doors.

Free swimming in the Marne is making a comeback in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés: the Jardin du Beach, set along the water at La Varenne, will welcome swimmers from June 20 to July 19, 2026, with no reservation required, in a supervised and secure pool.

Swim for free in the Marne just about twenty minutes from Paris, with no outlay at all—a smart summer move we’re happy to share, especially as the heat arrives. In the Val-de-Marne, the City of Saint-Maur-des-Fossés is reopening its outdoor swimming site at the Jardin du Beach, Winston Churchill Quay, just steps from the Chennevières Bridge and the La Varenne-Chennevières RER A station.

From June 20 to July 19, 2026, you can take a free dip in a basin built right into the river, with lifeguards on duty and no reservation needed. Last year, dozens of Saint-Maur residents rediscovered the joy of a splash in the Marne, a move that had been banned since the 1970s because of pollution. The experience returns this summer, earlier in the season and for a longer period.

When can you swim in the Marne in Saint-Maur in 2026?

The Jardin du Beach opens its gates on Saturday, June 20, 2026 and stays open daily through Sunday, July 19, 2026. Swimming is allowed from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, Monday to Friday, and from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekends, as well as on Tuesday, July 14, a public holiday. This is no ordinary spot: in the 1920s, the Beach Bathing at La Varenne-Saint-Hilaire was already among the Marne’s favorite shores, with its changing cabins and jetties. A century later, the circle is complete, thanks in particular to the pollution-cleanup work carried out in the wake of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Full details are available on the official site of the City of Saint-Maur.

What are the rules for swimming at Jardin du Beach?

The free swimming area remains strictly supervised. The 200 m² basin, built on the Marne and overseen, is open to anyone aged 6 and up, with minors requiring an adult companion. Access is organized in roughly 15-minute sessions, with a maximum of 30 people in the water at the same time and a bracelet system for peak times. Swimming outside this zone is prohibited. On-site showers are available, without soap, and a flag system signals daily whether swimming is allowed (green flag) or prohibited (red flag). Water quality is checked daily with the ARS, and the site can close at any moment depending on currents or the weather. One caveat: the site is not accessible to people with reduced mobility.

Where can you swim for free in the Marne near Paris this summer?

Saint-Maur isn’t the only town reconnecting with its river. Champigny-sur-Marne is offering free swimming, as is Neuilly-sur-Marne, which is opening a new site this year, while the paid sites in Joinville-le-Pont and Maisons-Alfort, managed by Paris Est Marne et Bois, will operate from June 20 to August 31, 2026. The Val-de-Marne Tourism Board lists all the department’s swimming spots. And to stretch the day along the water, we recommend the gentle navigation cruises by the Au Fil de l'Eau association, which showcase the Îles de la Marne nature reserve, to book.

Here’s a smart plan for free swimming just outside Paris, whether you’re with friends or family. Take a river dip without leaving the Île-de-France region—we’re on board. For more ways to stay cool, check out our guide.

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