The Seine, is a 777 kilometers (483 mi) long river originating 30 kilometers (19 mi) northwest of Dijon in northeastern France. It flows through Paris and eventually ends into the English Channel.
The Seine has been sung by countless troubadours through the ages and is one of the most romantic rivers in the world. It is usually a peaceful navigable waterway (often favored by seagulls and swans) that seldom causes any problem.
But due to relentless rain, last week the level of the river rose to 6.1m (20ft) above its normal height overnight, and bridges were closed and boats were banned from going through.
There are 37 colorful bridges in Paris over the Seine River, some (le Pont Neuf) dating back to 1607.
Less than 2 weeks ago I took a cruise on the river to re-acquaint myself with the iconic sites of the French capital, never thinking for a minute that this would become impossible in the following days.
But the unimaginable happened. The level of the water reached the waist of the Zouave statue on the Pont de l’Alma, indicating that it was indeed in a flood condition.
Much of the art in Paris is kept in underground storage rooms and the Louvre museum bordering the river scrambled to evacuate its priceless pieces of art.
Since 2002, an event called Paris-Plages has been held every summer on the Paris banks of the Seine. It transforms for a short time the paved banks of the river into a sandy beach with facilities for sunbathing and entertainment.
It will undoubtedly happen again, but for the time being the banks are under water and forlorn lovers are desperately seeking different romantic locations for smooching sessions.
From my own experience, the Luxembourg garden is a good alternative.
Alain
PS: Like the Hudson river, the Seine is also a popular site for both suicides and the disposal of murder victims bodies.
To look at photos of this event and listen to the accompanying background music, turn your computer’s sound on, and click on the link “My Photos” located on the right side of this page. For best viewing, go Full Screen.