Which river flows through Paris?
The Seine River flows through Paris. It is about 777 kilometers long, rising in Burgundy and flowing northwest to the English Channel at Le Havre.
The Seine divides Paris into the Right Bank, Rive Droite, to the north and the Left Bank, Rive Gauche, to the south. In the center of the city are two islands, Île de la Cité, where Notre-Dame Cathedral stands, and Île Saint-Louis. Paris began on Île de la Cité more than 2,000 years ago as a settlement of the Parisii tribe.
Many of Paris's most famous sights line the river, including the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Musée d'Orsay and the Grand Palais. The banks of the Seine in Paris are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Around 37 bridges cross it in the city, the oldest standing one being the Pont Neuf, completed in 1607.
Swimming in the Seine
Swimming in the Seine was banned in 1923 because of pollution. After a major cleanup for the Paris 2024 Olympics, where some swimming events were held in the river, Paris opened public swimming spots in the Seine in summer 2025.
Did You Know?
Booksellers called bouquinistes have sold old books and prints from green boxes along the Seine's banks for centuries.