Paris Plage; Sand In The City

Paris Plage is the largest sand box in the center of Paris, that just happens to have the choicest site of all, running along of the Seine from the quai du Louvre to past Pont Marie overlooking Ile de La Cité and Ile Saint Louis.   For the last 12 years, it has been a long-awaited summer tradition that has now expanded to include another place in the city.

It was the lovely ideal from our mayor Bertrand Delanoe that costs the city of Paris around 2.5 million euros yearly.     Its primary purpose was to provide a beach like resort atmosphere to the residents who were “unfortunate enough” to have to stay in Paris during August, the month that half of the city leaves in droves for real beaches elsewhere.

Yet, August, at least for me has always been my favorite month here! Sure, I occasionally have to put up with some of my favorite food merchants and small  restaurants closing, but it is really quieter, with fewer people to dodge on the sidewalks, except for the major tourist venues.

Just before Paris Plage opened, I was walking  across the bridge towards Châtelet and caught them unloading some of the 5,000 tonnes of sand from barges as seen in the photo.   This aristocratic sand comes from ancient sand quarries of the Seine from a small village in Normandy and was chosen for its very fine particles guaranteed to feel lusciously soft to the skin.

Once the sand has filled the carved wooden boxes woven along the banks;  strategically placed palm trees are deposited as if they grew there on site.  Hundreds of chaises long and beach umbrellas free of charge are arranged throughout.

Another load of sand goes to make the very popular beach volley ball courts in front of Hotel de Ville, the majestic Paris town hall. The sand is spay cleaned every night so as to be sparkling fresh awaiting beach combers the next day.

The other local of Paris Plage is situated on both sides of the Bassin de la Villette, which is large body of water in the northern part of the city. It connects to the Seine through canal Saint Martin.

Each year seems to bring about a newer and more expanded version than the previous years.  This year addition was a  new zip line that went from one side of the Bassin de la Villette to the other.

At la Villette, there were pedal boats and kayaks offered for free.  Activities are numerous at both sites, with some geared just for children, such as a mini zip line and their own ball dances.

Most popular every year are the water misters that spray cooling mists of water for sun scorched skin.  The pétaque courts are always full of players intently bent over to roll their shiny heavy metal balls along the sand.

This year, there is even an art exhibit featuring scenes of the Seine painted by Claude Monet.  They demonstrated the changing river scapes from 100 years ago.

A lending library  is in place also for folks who love to lay out reading, while intermittently gazing at the Seine.   You can even hear a gentle lapping of waves cause by the multitude of bateaux mouches that constantly are plying  thousands of tourists up and down the river.

At night Paris Plage takes on another dimension as does the whole of Paris.  When the lights go on, the golden illumination from lamp posts along Ile Saint Louis can be seen rippling along the currents, giving the whole scene an impressionistic view.

Daytimes offer tai chi lessons, along with street musicians and  balloon blowers twisting the long balloons into animal shapes and what not to the delight of children, all for free!  Music breaks out again at night with nightly dancing along the banks with sounds of  latin, tango, and rock.

Paris Plage is short-lived and is sadly dismantled after about 3 weeks.   As I go to publish this  post , the twelfth edition has just come to a close.

However, Paris is not called the city of lights for nothing.  All four seasons each offer spectacular views along the Seine, with or without the sand and palm trees.

As for year round  sand with a view, there is always the popular sandbox in the gardens of  Notre Dame.  Since the inauguration of Paris Plage, several other European cities have followed suite, such as Berlin, Budapest, and other cities in France.

Fortunately this August so far has proved to be warm , even hot, after a dreary prediction that it wouldn’t.  So even if Paris Plage has to go, I am enjoying my favorite august days here to the fullest.  After all Paris is truly a summer feast as well!

 

 

 

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