River Seine, from its source to Paris and beyond
The Seine may be inextricably linked to Paris, but its source lies far from the French capital. It springs forth at an altitude of 446 meters, at a place called La Source-Seine, on the Langres plateau in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region.
The Seine flows for 777 kilometres, passing through major cities such as Troyes, Paris, and Rouen before emptying into the English Channel in a wide estuary bordered by the bustling ports of Le Havre and Honfleur.
The Seine was named after the Celtic goddess Sequana, the sacred spring. A grotto erected in 1865 above the spring houses a statue representing the nymph Sequana, traditionally depicted as a young woman standing on a boat. This statue is inspired by the original work of François Jouffroy, who portrayed her reclining.
The remains of the Roman temple, once located near the spring, might be excavated in the coming years. The archaeological museum of Dijon currently houses a collection of various offerings and votive gifts discovered in the spring.
The River Seine flows east to west across Paris for 13 kilometres at a precise altitude of 26.72 metres.
With widths varying from 30 to 200 metres and depths from 3.4 to 5.7 metres, it is a vital waterway for the city. It is spanned in Paris by 37 bridges, including 4 footbridges, which have inspired poets and composers, notably odes to Parisian love such as “Sous le Pont Mirabeau” and “Sous les ponts de Paris.”
The River Seine was a major waterway as early as the Neolithic period, as evidenced by the discovery of ancient barges in the Parc de Bercy, now preserved at the Carnavalet Museum.
The Corporation of the Boatmen of Paris – Nautes Parisiens
The Seine is also associated with the boatmen of Paris.
The origins of the Guild of the Parisian Boatmen (Nautes Parisiens) date back to the Celtic tribe of the Parisii, who, long before the Roman colonised Gaul (France), had settled on the Ile de la Cité, a small island strategically located at the confluence of the Seine and ancient north-south tracks.
The Parisii constructed a wooden bridge to span the smallest bar of the Seine and connect the Île de la Cité to the Left Bank.
The first and oldest bridge in Paris, the Petit Pont was rebuilt many times over the centuries, a first time by the Romans the 1st century AD, however it retained its original name. Thirty-six other bridges were built over time to cross the Seine.
Skilled navigators, the Parisii developed their maritime activities after the Roman conquest.
The prestigious Guilde des Nautes Parisiens erected several monuments, notably the impressive Pillar of the Boatmen of Paris – Pilier des Nautes Parisiens, a votive column now housed in the Cluny Museum.
Prospering in the Middle Ages, the guild played a vital role in establishing the city’s first administrative structures.
Its coat of arms, depicting a sailing ship navigating the River Seine, became the official coat of arms of Paris.
A once essential water supply source for Parisians
The Seine has, of course, also played a crucial role as a source of water for Parisians throughout the centuries. In 1608, a water pump, La Samaritaine, was installed under the Pont-Neuf (bridge), supplying the Louvre palace with water until 1813.
However, in medieval Paris, access to such infrastructure was limited, and running water was practically nonexistent. As a result, residents drew water directly from the river or bought it from street vendors.
To remedy this problem, Napoleon initiated the construction of the Canal Saint Martin and Bassin de La Villette in the early 19th century to supply water to the city’s public fountains.
Besides its practical use, the Seine provided a natural recreational space for Parisians, who could stroll along its banks or swim in its waters. Although swimming in the Seine was officially banned by decree in 1923, the tradition of enjoying the riverbanks continues with the annual Paris-Plages event during the summer months.
River Seine – once temperamental
But the River Seine has not always been as docile as it is now; it was once wild and unpredictable. During harsh winters, it would even freeze over, allowing pedestrians to cross its icy surface on foot.
However, with the spring thaw, it carried enormous blocks of ice that had broken off and often crashed against the bridge piers, and flooded its banks.
The Seine has thus experienced many historic floods, such as those of 358-59 and 582. The flood of 1280 led to the destruction of the Grand-Pont (Pont Notre-Dame), while the flood of 1296 submerged all the bridges of Paris, which were then lined with houses.
One of these exceptional and more recent floods occurred in 1910. It lasted nine days and caused the water level to rise by 9.50 metres between January 20 and 28.
River Seine shaped Paris
But the Seine didn’t just destroy Paris; it sculpted and reshaped the city over time! It indeed gave birth to numerous islands and islets. Some, such as those near the Île de la Cité, were joined to the main island to enlarge it. Others, such as Île Louviers, near Ile St Louis, were integrated into the Right Bank to create the present-day Morland district. As for the Île Saint-Louis, it was simply developed, giving rise to one of the most aristocratic districts of the city.
Further downstream, the former Île Maquerelle, nestled between the Seine and the Rue de l’Université, was attached to the Left Bank. Other islets, such as Île aux Cygnes, were created; this 890-metre-long artificial dike, constructed in 1827, served as a support for three bridges.
But, over millennia, natural processes have also altered the course of the River Seine and the surrounding landscape. The river indeed once flowed north of its current route, forming a wide meander that encircled what is now the Right Bank. Gradually, silting diverted the its course to its present location, leaving behind an obsolete meander that gave rise to a vast marsh (marais), our present-day Marais district.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Main source by Hubert DENIES CC BY-SA 3.0 – Flood 1910 Domaine public
