parisbynumbers.com

It’s certainly a wacky idea: each summer the ‘Paris Plage’ project brings the beach to the city by laying some 2000 tonnes of sand straight on top of Paris’ busy riverside motorway. Eccentric, for sure - and yet it works, and it works a dream. Since it’s launch in 2002, Paris Plage has become one of City Mayor Bertand Delanoe’s most popular initiatives - and in so doing the project has racked up many miles of headlines in the global press.

Now approaching it’s seventh year, Parisians have proven all too keen to leave behind the city’s baking August heat in return for a spot in one of the council’s many Seine-side deck chairs, turning out in their millions to enjoy the river views.  In addition to the sheer pleasure (and novelty) of the sandy space, there are numerous events and activites laid on, including bars, beach games, climbing walls, and concerts - some on floating barges. There are even temporary open air swimming pools built for the urban sun-bather’s enjoyment - tempting as it may seem, the dirty waters of the Seine are hardly fit for a refreshing dip…

The event has proven so succesful, Paris now boasts three seperate ‘beaches’ during the summer months. The original beach lies right at the heart of the city on the right bank, stretching three kilometres from the Louvre in the West to the Pont de Sully in the East - in place of the busy riverside boulevard normally snarled up with three lanes of traffic. More recently ‘beaches’ have been opened up in two of the outer districts: the first in the 13th arrondissement at the foot of the new National Library; the second in the 19th arrondissement, around the artificial lake known as Bassin de la Villette.

The ‘beaches’ open on the 20th of July each year, and continue for four weeks - you can find more detailed information by visiting the Paris city website.