Now where is our beach along broadway , Mr Bloomberg?

The Beaches of Paris Return to the Banks of the Seine

By VALERIE GLADSTONE

You may not be able to go snorkeling in the Seine, but this summer, Paris has again transformed the banks of its river into a Caribbean-like beach paradise. In 2002, Bertrand Delanoe, the mayor of Paris, inaugurated the idea of Paris Plages. Open through Aug. 21, the beaches offer an unusual perspective on the city and a great opportunity to slow down between museum and monument visits.

“What makes them so special is Paris,” said Stephane Chave, event coordinator for the city of Paris, “Have you ever seen a sunset in front of Île de la Cité or Île St.-Louis? It is the most beautiful view in the world.”

The project designers first created a two-mile beach near the Pont Neuf, equipping it with white sand and deckchairs, as well as enough space to play pétanque and volleyball. Now spread across three spots — Louvre/Pont de Sully, Port de la Gare and Bassin de la Villette — the beaches offer a variety of activities, like concerts, roller-blading and games; at Bassin de la Villette, one can rent sailboats, kayaks and rowboats. And all of them have plenty of refreshment areas, selling food and drink.

Best time to go? Early morning. All beaches are open from 8 a.m. to midnight. But besides sunscreen, don’t expect to have to come prepared. “You don’t have to bring anything,” said Mr. Chave, “not even a towel.”