This isn’t just about a dip in the river—it’s a test of whether cities can reclaim polluted waterways for public use. If Paris pulls it off, it could inspire other cities to rethink their own "untouchable" rivers. But the challenges show how hard it is to balance nature, health, and urban life.

Locals and tourists are lining up this summer for a dip in the Seine. But the reopening of the storied river to public swimming after a centurylong ban hasn’t been entirely smooth.

Parisians and visitors are flocking to the Seine for a swim this summer, marking the river’s return as a public swimming spot after being off-limits for 100 years. But it hasn’t been all smooth sailing—water quality concerns and logistical hiccups have popped up alongside the excitement.