The Seine is the river that flows through Paris and passes landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame.
The Seine rises on the Langres Plateau in northeastern France and runs generally northwest before reaching the English Channel near Le Havre. Its main course is about 777 kilometers long, making it one of France’s major rivers.
Paris developed around the river, especially on and around the Île de la Cité, an island in the historic center. Bridges, quays, and river islands helped shape the city’s transport, commerce, defenses, and architecture. The Seine’s banks in central Paris were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1991.
The Seine is sometimes confused with the Loire because the Loire is France’s longest river. The Loire does not run through Paris; the Seine is the river most closely associated with the capital’s historic landmarks and urban landscape.