Beaches “ of Paris, which this year celebrates its twentieth anniversary, constitutes in the summer one of the great refuges of the inhabitants of the French capital and of tourists for heat waves like the one that is coming now.

Parisians welcome summer by sitting on deck chairs, strolling and playing outdoor sports on the banks of the Bassin de la Villette canal, at the annual Paris Plages event, the most metropolitan “beaches” of the capital.

Under an increasingly furious July sun, the wind and water cool the passers-by who crowd the banks of the Seine, but also the Bassin de la Villette canal to sit on deck chairs, stroll, play sports or even take a dip in the temporary pools that have been created there.

The sound of water, which accompanies the laughter and conversations of visitors, cheers the summer days, which are getting hotter and will be even more so from Monday, when they could reach or even exceed 40 degrees, according to the meteorological services.

For everyone

On the “beaches”, fun is guaranteed with all kinds of activities, from fishing, boating and canoeing, climbing and tai chi or yoga classes.

In this holiday period, when a part of Paris empties of its inhabitants, many of those who stay and tourists fight the heat while enjoying the playful atmosphere of the Bassin de la Villette or the Seine.

“I come here often. It is nice to see that there are places where you can be and also activities “, comments one of the visitors of EFE.” We will try to sit on the deck chairs and enjoy a little bit of all this “- he adds -.

She and her friend decided to take a walk and sit in the shade, with a privileged view that favors relaxation and enjoying the summer, in an area particularly popular with young people.

Some residents are not entirely happy with the initiatives of Paris Plages, especially due to the differences in activity between the Bassin de la Villette, in the center of a popular neighborhood, and those carried out on the banks of the Seine, in the heart of Paris.

some complaints

Nathalie, a resident of the 19th arrondissement, comments that, due to the organization of the Parisian beaches, “there is more noise, dirt, and this year fewer activities for children: this is the Paris Plages for the poor ».

Julie, another resident around the canal, says she loves walking her dog “and enjoying the day”. She is not interested in water sports, but for her Paris Plages is a good initiative: “I think it’s great, especially for children.”

On the banks of the Seine, in the heart of Paris, you can enjoy live music, food and parties, as well as a place to stroll and enjoy the most monumental setting in the city, which becomes very special at sunset, when the water reflects the colors heat of buildings.

The good atmosphere is contagious and the air is more refreshing and calm than on the animated bridges that cross the river, or in the surrounding streets, packed with shops, restaurants and iconic monuments such as the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower or the Place de la Concorde.

For Parisians who have not gone on vacation, this type of initiative allows a respite in a particularly hot summer like this, in which the city is already experiencing its second heat wave. Something that the inhabitants of the capital are little used to.

These “beaches”, with all they represent as an oasis of tranquility, health and leisure, will be open until 21 August.

EFE agency

PB