The Seine River in Paris has reopened for swimming for the first time in over a century, attracting thousands of Parisians and tourists amid a severe heatwave. This reopening follows extensive efforts to clean the river, initially undertaken for the upcoming Olympic Games triathlon events. Visitors have praised the experience of swimming in clean, natural water with views of landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower. The surge in demand has also led some to rent boats to navigate the Seine as a means of escaping the summer heat. Similar movements are occurring elsewhere in Europe, with Berlin residents protesting a century-old ban on swimming in the Spree River, citing improved water quality. The reopening of the Seine for recreational swimming marks a notable shift in urban waterway use and public access in Paris.