This summer, locals and tourists enjoyed new river-bathing sites. As global heating escalates, we need more of these ‘cool islands’
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fter la rentrée, when adults and children alike across France head back to work and school after the seemingly endless summer holidays, you would be forgiven for thinking autumn is upon us. But, weather permitting, enthusiastic swimmers in Paris will be able to prolong that holiday feeling into September – by taking a dip in the River Seine.
For nearly 100,000 swimmers, one of the highlights of this summer in the city has been being able to take a splash in the cool river waters at one of the three free public bathing spots, made available this year for the first time in over a century.
They are the visible culmination of a huge, multiyear river cleanup operation that goes far beyond urban swimming, giving other cities a masterclass in looking after their waterways and adapting to the climate crisis. Paris, one of Europe’s most densely populated cities, has experienced extreme heatwaves in recent summers, and is already preparing for a 50C scenario.
