Can Paris clean up the Seine in time for the Olympics?

For centuries, the Seine River has been Paris’s dumping ground. A billion-dollar cleanup is trying to make it swimmable again.

How the Seine River shaped the city of Paris

The history of Paris is inextricably linked to the river that flows through its center—from Neolithic settlement to this year’s Olympic games.

Meet the ancient goddess of the Seine River: Sequana

The opening ceremony for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics will take place on the fabled French waterway. But did you know it was named for a Gallo-Roman deity?

Discover the secret underground world of Paris

From forbidden tunnels to the legendary catacombs, the City of Light harbors a deeper and darker side.

6 ways to experience the Paris of the Roaring ’20s

From peeking into artist ateliers to sipping coffee at La Coupole, here’s how to still find the magic of Paris from when it last hosted the Olympics 100 years ago.

More from this issue
Explore
Latest Issues
See Archive
Subscribe to National Geographic
Subscribe