For the first time in over a century, Parisians and tourists are getting ready to take a refreshing dip in the Seine.

For the first time in over a century, Parisians and tourists will be able to take a refreshing dip in the River Seine. The long-polluted waterway is finally opening up as a summertime swim spot following a 1.4 billion euro ($1.5 billion) cleanup project that made it suitable for Olympic competitions last year.

Three new swimming sites on the Paris riverbank will open on Saturday — one close to Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral, another near the Eiffel Tower and a third in eastern Paris.

Swimming in the Seine has been illegal since 1923, with a few exceptions, due to pollution and risks posed by river navigation. Taking a dip outside bathing areas is still banned for safety reasons.

  • BastingChemina@slrpnk.netEnglish
    33·
    3 days ago

    It’s been in the work for quite a while. The mayor of Paris announced that the seine will be open for swimming in 5 years … In 1988.

    So it took a bit longer than planned, almost 50 years instead of 5 but the fact that they are opening it now is the result of these 50 years of continuous improvement.