Paris Takes the Plunge – and RESTUBE Is On Board for Greater Safety
For a hundred years, the idea of swimming in the Seine seemed unthinkable: too polluted, too dangerous, long forgotten. But now, in the summer of 2025, it’s finally happening: the Seine is becoming a public swimming spot once again – right in the heart of Paris. What sounds like a PR stunt is actually the result of years of planning, massive investments in water quality and infrastructure – and an innovative safety concept in which RESTUBE plays a key role.
The Return of the River
Over a century ago, it was completely normal: children splashing on the banks, adults cooling off after work, couples rowing into the sunset.
But with industrialization, a growing population, and increasing pollution, swimming in the Seine gradually disappeared. The 2024 Olympic Games, however, sparked a turning point. With the promise of turning the river into a safe, clean space for athletes and citizens alike, the city of Paris invested nearly €1.5 billion in water treatment systems, lock modifications, and water quality monitoring.
Now, in July 2025, it’s become reality: three official river swimming zones are open to Parisians and tourists alike. The demand is high – and the excitement is palpable.
“This isn’t just water. It’s quality of life returning,” says an elderly woman on the riverside, tears in her eyes.
A Bold Project Needs Safety – RESTUBE Is Part of the Solution
But despite the joy, river swimming comes with challenges. Currents, changing water levels, temperature differences – they make the Seine a dynamic and sometimes unpredictable place to swim. This is where RESTUBE comes in.
RESTUBE’s compact inflatable Swim Buoys are easy to carry – and life-saving in emergencies. They’re not a replacement for lifeguards, but they are a major safety enhancement for independent swimmers, spontaneous bathers, and recreational athletes.
Paris has officially integrated RESTUBE into its safety concept. Visitors are informed about their use at the bathing zones, many already have their own buoys, and others can rent them on site. In areas of stronger currents, the RESTUBE SWIM BUOY is considered “strongly recommended.”
A European Model – With a Ripple Effect for Germany?
Paris’ enthusiasm is making waves across Europe. The media is calling it the “reclaiming of the river” and “green progress in the metropolis.”
And in Germany, the conversation is picking up again: Why isn’t swimming in rivers like the Ruhr or the Spree already part of everyday life?
The city of Essen, for example, is currently exploring whether the Ruhr between Lake Baldeney and the city center could become an official swimming zone. Here, too, safety is a central concern – and RESTUBE is already in talks with municipalities and organizations to bring the Paris model to Germany.
More Than a Buoy – A New Understanding of Safety
RESTUBE stands for a shift in water safety culture. The SWIM BUOY is small, lightweight, easy to use – and lowers the threshold for people to venture into open waters. Whether for stand-up paddling, open water swimming, or river bathing – RESTUBE is a statement: for freedom with responsibility. You can be free – and still be prepared.
The Seine Is Just the Beginning
The Paris project shows what’s possible when vision, technology, and responsibility come together.
The Seine’s return as a swimmable river is a symbol – of sustainability, quality of life, and urban freedom.
And it has only been made possible through a combination of efforts: better water quality, smarter infrastructure – and enhanced safety through smart products like RESTUBE SWIM BUOY.
If we want to reclaim our rivers, we need more than clean water. We need trust.
And trust grows when modern technology supports the courage to try something new – just as RESTUBE is doing in Paris.
Swimming in the Seine is back. And RESTUBE is right there with it.
