dsc09539

"The biggest swimming pool in Paris": the Canal Saint-Martin has just opened for swimming!

undefined undefined undefined 12h00

The Editor

© Jagoda Bartus / Le Bonbon

As we announced to you yesterday as an exclusive, it's now official: on Wednesday, June 17, the Canal Saint-Martin will officially open for swimming at 4 PM to help beat the heatwave. This decision was announced by the Mayor of Paris himself, Emmanuel Grégoire, in an Instagram post last night.

We know that Parisians are real rebels, ignoring the rules when it comes to their personal happiness. This is especially true when they take their drinks out of a bar even if it’s against the rules to avoid disturbing the neighbors, running a red light to bike faster, or taking a dip in the Canal Saint-Martin to cool off during a heatwave, even if it is not allowed. In light of this tendency to break the rules, the Paris city hall has decided to go along with its citizens by allowing them to splash around sooner than expected.


A wise and reasonable decision

The official swimming areas in Paris’s waters were not supposed to open until 2026. on July 4th. In his immense generosity (and in response to a very intense heat wave), Emmanuel Grégoire has finally decided to open the canal a little earlier, at least for the Saint-Martin canal. This is a decision we can only applaud, as it shows the city's willingness to be pragmatic and to ensure this practice is safe rather than punish it, which would have been completely futile. Indeed, no one can stop stubborn Parisians from doing as they please, and in this sense, it’s better to provide them with a framework to do so safely, considering the immense risks that come with diving into this very popular spot as soon as the nice weather returns.


Important Restrictions to Keep in Mind

However, be aware that while swimming will officially be allowed starting this Wednesday, June 17th, there will be a number of conditions to follow for future swimmers. First of all, only a portion of the canal will be open, not its entirety. The 100-meter pool accessible to everyone for free will be open every day from 4 PM to 8 PM, as long as the heat wave continues or health conditions allow access to the canal's waters. Swimming will be supervised by lifeguards, and control systems will be implemented to ensure the dispersal of little ones before the facilities open and after they close. However, some may be disappointed to learn that dive jumps from the walkways will remain prohibited no matter what. drive, for safety reasons. But hey, we think that's already better than nothing, right?