Paris officials authorized swimming in a supervised section of the famous canal on June 17. The decision gave residents another place to cool down as an intense heatwave spread across France.
The swimming area is located at the Bassin des Récollets in the city’s 10th arrondissement. It covers approximately 100 meters of the canal and operates from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. during the heatwave.
Swimming Area Opened Weeks Early
The summer swimming program was originally expected to begin in July. City officials moved the opening forward after weather forecasts warned of dangerously high temperatures.
The City of Paris said lifeguards, a swimming platform and additional safety equipment were installed before the early opening.
Boat traffic is suspended while swimmers are in the designated area. Municipal police are also present to make sure everyone leaves the water at closing time.
Water Quality Tested Every Day
Officials test the canal’s water quality daily before allowing people to enter. The swimming area can close without warning if the water fails safety checks or weather conditions become dangerous.
The city stressed that the entire Canal Saint-Martin has not opened for swimming. People may enter the water only inside the authorized area and during supervised hours.
Swimming near locks can be especially dangerous because opening the gates may create powerful suction currents. Aquatic plants, boat traffic and shallow water also create risks outside the controlled zone.
Jumping From Bridges Remains Prohibited
Officials warned visitors not to jump from bridges or footbridges into the canal. The water is only about two to three meters deep in some areas, creating a risk of striking the bottom or submerged objects.
Paris temporarily restricted access to two nearby footbridges as part of its safety measures. Swimming elsewhere in the canal and the Seine remains prohibited unless an area is officially marked and supervised.
France Faces Severe June Heatwave
Météo-France described the June heatwave as widespread, long-lasting and intense.
The weather agency forecast temperatures between 37 and 42 degrees Celsius across parts of France on June 22. Paris was expected to reach approximately 36 degrees, while some regions faced temperatures above 40 degrees.
Officials also warned that overnight temperatures could remain above 20 degrees in many areas. Hot nights increase health risks because the body has less opportunity to recover from daytime heat.
France Recorded Its Hottest Spring
The heatwave followed France’s hottest spring since national records began in 1900.
According to Météo-France, the average temperature during spring 2026 reached 13.8 degrees Celsius. That was 1.7 degrees above the seasonal average.
Spring rainfall was also 30 percent below normal, making the season one of the 10 driest since 1959. May 2026 was the second-hottest May recorded in France.
Paris Changes Its Approach to Extreme Heat
During an earlier heatwave, city workers repeatedly removed people who entered the canal despite the ban. Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire said creating a safe and supervised swimming area made more sense than continuing to remove swimmers.
Officials view the early opening as part of the city’s response to climate change. Extreme heat events in France are becoming more frequent, longer and more intense.
Additional swimming areas along the Seine, Canal Saint-Martin and Bassin de la Villette are scheduled to open later in the summer. Until then, officials are urging residents to use only designated areas, follow lifeguard instructions and enter the water gradually to avoid cold-water shock.