Paris Plages, or Summer Paris Beaches
Considering Paris is nowhere near the coast, the idea of creating summer Paris beaches was rather unusual, yet started in 2002 the concept has expanded and now attracts even more people every year.
About the Paris Plages, Summer Paris Beaches
Although many places close during August and lots of people escape the hustle and bustle of the city, not everyone is so lucky to be able to venture off to the coast and have a relaxing holiday, although getting there used to cause major traffic problems, just trying to get out of Paris.
But the city has always tried to consider its residents as well as the millions of tourists that come to the city of lights for a holiday, which is why there are some fabulous Paris parks and gardens to experience, along with many other tourist attractions you can find around the city.
However, it still did not take away from the fact that Paris is nowhere near the coast and a lot of people like the idea of relaxing on the beach or playing different sports they would not normally do, and so on the initiative of the Mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoe, the Paris Plages idea started to become a reality.
The very first Paris Plage or summer Paris Beach was created in 2002 in the heart of the city, when the banks along the River Seine became traffic free, closing roads such as the Georges Pompidou Expressway where it became only accessible to pedestrians.
Spanning three kilometres from the famous Paris museum called Musee du Louvre through to the Pont de Sully bridge and incorporating parts of the existing River Seine quays on the Right Bank, the first stage was to import tonnes of sand, then a stage was set up for open air concerts and deckchairs were laid out for people to relax. It also included a swimming pool and other tourist attractions such as French boules courts, a climbing wall, areas for roller blading and more, along with refreshment areas and kiosks.
After the very first successful year of the Paris Plage, the Parisians and tourists were demanding the same thing happen the following year, and as the years have gone on it became known as the Paris Plages or summer Paris Beaches.
This is due to the fact that another area was also set up on the Left Bank of the River Seine by the Port de la Gare and the Biblotheque Francois Mitterrand, and this is also close to the Piscine Josephine Baker floating swimming pool. along with the Dame de Canton, which is an authentic Chinese Junk boat that has a restaurant and is one of the unusual Paris music venues.
Then again the Paris Plages and summer Paris Beaches continued to expand in 2007 to another area which was also transformed for this summer spectacular. It is located at the Bassin de la Villette, which is the largest artificial lake in Paris that links the Canal de l’Ourcq to the Canal Saint-Martin.
Now this lake is located in the 19th Arrondissement and this is set up close to the Parc de la Villette with its historical building and Paris monuments like the La Rotonde de Ledoux, which is now a brasserie, bar and Paris restaurant right by the Bassin de la Villette.
Also, this particular area features a true water sports complex with rowing boats, kayaks, pedalos and dinghies, not forgetting the quaint quayside restaurants and the boules courts that are in the area, and again tonnes of sand along with deckchairs are laid out.
So, today when people who are on a Paris holiday during the Paris Plages event can enjoy the summer Paris beaches and take advantage of lots of other activities that are organised in the different areas such as taking an aqua-gym class, playing beach volleyball, taking a tai-chi lesson or even borrowing books for free at the Bassin de la Villette event.
But lazing in the sun is another major factor, where you can relax while your children build sandcastles, or perhaps in the shade of palm trees or under an umbrella is more to your liking, while you let the older children enjoy activities such as trampolines, beach games, the water jets for cooling down, a zip line, etc.
The city also lays on a free WiFi service in these areas and there are numerous outlets for ice creams, snack and drinks, not forgetting that live music events and concerts are held on the temporary stage as well.
By 2017 the Paris Plages event has become even more comprehensive, with more summer Paris beaches including the area outside the Hotel de Ville, which is the Paris City Hall, also being transformed for the beach event, but also plays host to numerous different sporting activities such as wrestling, athletics on a track set out and so on.
In addition to these, located on the Quai de Loire of the Canal de l'Ourcq there are three swimming pools set up of varying depths suitable for children through to the disabled and the more capable swimmers, which is supervised all day and there are toilets and showers provided so that people can get changed easily.
Access to the Paris Plages, Summer Paris Beaches
Every year the Paris Plages with its summer Paris beaches event takes place from around the 20th July, which used to be for four weeks finishing approximately the 18th August, yet over more recent years this has been extended to the end of August, and all of these temporary beaches in Paris are open from 8am through to midnight, so you can also even enjoy relaxing under the stars.
Today, these Paris Plages, or summer Paris beaches, offers a wide range of different activities for everyone to enjoy while you are on holiday in Paris and even families with young children are not forgotten, as there are dedicated spots that have special childrens play areas, along with baby feeding and changing facilities, although we would like to point out that some activities are only available at specific times.
So if you wish to do something different on a really hot day, then get along to the Paris Plages for an unusual day out, which has become one of the major Paris tourist attractions every summer that's enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.
Locations of the Paris Plages, Summer Paris Beaches
Now as we mentioned earlier, the Paris Plages can be found in different areas of the city including the Voie Goerges Pompidou that extends through the Parc Rives de Seine, the square outside the Hotel de Ville, at the Bassin de la Villette and on the Canal de l'Ourcq.
You can also discover these beaches going from the Pont de Solferino to the Pont Alexandre III on the left bank and from the Pont de Sully to the Pont Neuf on the right bank of the River Seine, where you can get some great views of famous historical monuments in Paris such as the Musee du Louvre, the landmark Eiffel Tower and the Musee d'Orsay.
