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8.5 km in the Seine: 80 years later, the legendary Swimming Across Paris is making its grand return!

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The Editor

© Hugo Dominguez / Le Bonbon

On Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12, the Open Swim Harmonie Mutuelle is back for its 12th edition, ready to make the capital come alive! With several routes for different skill levels, this event is open to everyone. Its historic course is actually being used again for the first time by swimmers since 1944.

Whether you're more of a Léon Marchand or a casual Sunday swimmer, this open water race in the heart of Paris is the perfect opportunity to challenge yourself this summer. So put on your best swimsuit and your fanciest swim cap, and dive in for an experience that promises to be unforgettable.


A Spectacular Edition

This year, for the first time in over 80 years, the event of The Swim Across Paris returns thanks to the Open Swim Harmonie Mutuelle. Organized by swimmers eager to share their passion, the courses cater to all levels with 6 different events: 500 m or 1 km for beginner swimmers, 2 km for the more experienced, 5 km for the pros, a relay of 4 x 500 m, and of course, the swim across Paris covering a distance of 8.5 km.

This exceptional route is reserved for excellent swimmers, as the crossing time between thePort de la Gare in the 13th and the Quai de Grenelle in the 15th should take a maximum of 2 hours and 30 minutes. Of course, registration is subject to proof of your good, or even excellent, swimming level. To register, prices start at €20 for the 500 meters and can climb up to €90 for the longest course.


A competition that’s been around for a while

The very first edition of the Paris swim crossing was organized in 1905 by the newspaper L'Auto, which was also behind the Tour de France. The route was 11 km: starting from the National Bridge in the 13th arrondissement to the Auteuil Viaduct, now known as the Garigliano Bridge in the 16th. Unfortunately, over time, the deterioration of water quality and the booming water traffic caused the Paris swim crossing to fizzle out in 1944.

Since then, there have been several attempts to revive the competition from the ashes, but unfortunately, none have succeeded. Between 1966 and 1992, a race was held every year, but with wetsuits and fins… In 2012, the crossing was prohibited due to the poor quality of the water of the Seine, and in 2025, the Open Swim Harmonie Mutuelle was also limited for the same reasons.

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Open Swim Harmonie Mutuelle
Saturday, July 11, 2026
Canal de l'Ourcq 
For the 500m, 5 km and 4x500 m relay

Sunday, July 12, 2026 
Quai de la Gare — 13th 
For the 1 km, 2 km and 8.5 km 
More info

s d'infos and full program