The Seine is the river that flows through Paris.
The Seine rises on the Langres Plateau in eastern France and travels northwest to the English Channel. Its course through Paris passes major landmarks, including Notre-Dame, the Louvre area, and the Eiffel Tower. The historic banks of the Seine in Paris became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.
The river has shaped Parisian transport, trade, engineering, and urban identity for centuries. The city developed around islands and crossings in the river, especially the Île de la Cité, one of the oldest settled areas of Paris. Bridges and quays now connect both banks and support roads, promenades, and cultural sites.
The Seine is sometimes confused with the Loire because the Loire is France’s longest river. The Seine is not the longest, but it is the river most closely associated with the French capital. Its estuary is an important habitat, and the river has also been central to debates about water quality and public swimming.