The Seine in figures

Inseparable from the image of Paris, the Seine still hides many surprises behind its meanders. From its source in Burgundy to its mouth in the English Channel, the river crosses regions, weaves the history of the capital and forms one of the most photographed landscapes in France.

From the source to the sea

The Seine rises in the village of Source-Seine, in the Côte-d'Or department in Burgundy. It flows into the English Channel near Le Havre, after a journey of around 777 kilometres (about 482.8 miles).

Along the way, it is fed by several tributaries — including the Oise, the Aube and the Marne — which gradually transform it into the wide river familiar to Parisians. Its course shapes the valleys, the meadows and many cities along its path.

The Seine, the very setting of Paris

Within the capital, the Seine flows for almost 13 kilometres. It is crossed by 37 bridges, and 12 metro lines, including 3 elevated stations, run alongside or above it. It separates and at the same time connects the Right Bank, the Left Bank, Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis.

The river has known impressive episodes. The hundred-year flood of 1910 raised its level to several metres. At Pont de l'Alma, the Zouave statue is still considered an unofficial gauge of high water levels.

Living banks all year round

Along the Seine, 245 booksellers' stalls offer rare books, prints and old engravings. Since 2002, the Paris Plages operation invites Parisians and visitors to enjoy the sun on the banks, on temporary beaches set up every summer.

The river is also home to fleets of boats. Lunch and dinner cruises, sightseeing tours, restaurant boats: more than 100,000 passengers a year sail aboard the Paris Seine fleet alone.