For the first time in over a century, Parisians were able to take a dip in the Seine as the city officially reopened the river for public swimming on July 6. The milestone comes after an extensive cleanup campaign launched in preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the river was used as a venue for aquatic events.
Three designated sites along the Seine are now open to the public, welcoming over a thousand swimmers per day until August 31, local officials said. Residents and tourists alike flocked to the banks for a historic plunge.
The improved water quality was a major success for city officials, who had long battled pollution in the river.
Meandering through Paris like a ribbon of living history, the Seine has been revived not just as a scenic landmark but as a space for public joy and recreation. In this gallery, click through and embark on a virtual voyage through Europe’s most iconic rivers.