Paris Experiences ‘Record-Breaking’ Summer Swimming Season Amidst Heatwaves
Paris, August 29 – The city’s designated swimming areas in the Seine, Canal Saint-Martin, and Bassin de la Villette welcomed over 180,000 visitors this summer, marking a “record” turnout despite multiple heatwaves, according to a report released by the City of Paris on Saturday.
Seine Swimming Sites See Significant Increase
The three free swimming sites in the Seine – Bras Marie in the heart of Paris, Bercy in the 12th arrondissement, and Grenelle at the foot of the Eiffel Tower in the 15th arrondissement – collectively hosted 120,000 swimmers over eight weeks. This represents a 20% increase compared to 2025, the city stated.
These specially developed zones opened last summer, following a century-long ban on swimming in the river, a direct consequence of the preparations for the 2024 Olympic Games. While the 2025 season was affected by summer rains in July, which rendered the water unsuitable for swimming, August saw full attendance. This summer, the Bras Marie and Bercy sites experienced brief intermittent closures in late July due to oil pollution.
Canal Sites Also Popular
Approximately 63,000 people also took a dip in the designated canal swimming areas. The Bassin de la Villette in the 19th arrondissement attracted 51,000 swimmers, while the Canal Saint-Martin in the 10th arrondissement saw 12,000 visitors. Of these, 9,000 visited the Canal Saint-Martin during its early opening in mid-June, a decision made by Socialist Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire during a heatwave.
Furthermore, outdoor summer pools opened in four Parisian sports centers, accommodating an additional 33,000 swimmers. This brings the total number of bathers in the capital to 216,000.
Heatwaves Drive Demand for Cooling Options
The city hall highlighted that one-third of the swimming days coincided with a heatwave episode. “These sites allowed a large number of Parisians to cool off during a summer that I know was particularly challenging due to the heatwaves,” stated Emmanuel Grégoire, who pledged to “go further” in 2027.
A project to open a new swimming site in the Bassin de l’Arsenal at Bastille is currently under consideration.
Beyond Paris: Marne River Sites
Outside of Paris, five swimming sites were opened this summer in the Marne River, a tributary of the Seine, providing additional cooling options for residents in the wider region.
The successful summer season underscores the growing importance of urban swimming initiatives, particularly as cities face increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves. The City of Paris’s commitment to expanding these facilities reflects a proactive approach to public well-being and leisure in a changing climate.
Source: https://actu.orange.fr/france/saison-estivale-quot-record-quot-pour-les-baignades-a-paris-CNT000002rBw96.html
