It was the big news of summer 2025: since July 5th, Parisians have been able to enjoy swimming in the Seine again, exactly 100 years after it was banned. And with the scorching summer heat we've had, nearly 80,000 people bravely took the plunge between July and August at various free and supervised swimming spots: the Bercy quays, Bras Marie, and Bras Grenelle, along with the Villette basin, Saint-Martin canal, and Rives de Seine park. Despite the huge success, one of these sites will not reopen to the public next year.
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The end of the swimming site in the 4th
It's a decision that has been made by the Île-de-France prefecture: the Bras Marie site located opposite the Île Saint-Louis will no longer be accessible for swimming in 2026. « Since the official announcement of the three swimming sites last May, it has been announced that the site will be relocated in the coming years. This is a commitment made by the State in collaboration with the City of Paris to offer a location more suited for boat navigation », the prefecture particularly stated.
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The Need to Smooth Out River Traffic
The closure of the Marie Arm is related to river transport and the unique layout of the area. “The navigation is split in two, between the main arm and the Marie Arm. If the latter is closed to allow for swimming, cruise boats will have to use the main arm, which is already subject to alternating traffic,” said Didier Leandri, president of French River Companies (E2F).
Thus, the swimming area could be shifted to another location. Two options are being considered near the Louis-Philippe Bridge or the Tino Rossi Gardens. For now, the swimming that was supposed to officially end...
On August 31st, it has been extended until September 7th for the Grenelle site, and until September 14th for Bercy, with an additional weekend on September 20 and 21 September.