FRANCE: Paris beaches bring the seaside to the city

Despite an unpromising grey start on Friday (July 20) morning, Parisians were determined to get into the holiday spirit as the rivers and canals of the French capital were transformed into a beachside promenade on the opening day of Paris Plages. In the six years since its inauguration, the ever-popular scheme has expanded from its original spot on the Seine near the Town Hall to take in two further sites. Last year a second beach was set up just outside the National Library, encouraging cultural activities with free book lending, drawing and painting, whilst along a canal in eastern Paris the new Bassin de la Villette site offers rowing and sailing, alongside children's entertainment and more traditional beachside cafés and petanque pitches. With the Town Hall/Louvre site made even livelier by the addition of beach rubgy pitches in homage to this year's Rugby World Cup, and a variety of concerts and shows planned for the evenings, every interest is catered for. All the activities are organised free of charge by the Paris Town Council, and visitors taking advantage of the sun that appeared later in the day were delighted with what was on offer. "We are starting to get the feel for the first few days of our holidays on the banks of the Seine, and it's brilliant," said Catherine Alric, relaxing on a deckchair at the Villette site. The three beaches are open every day from eight in the morning until midnight, and will remain in place until August 19.

ITN Source | July 28, 2007

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