Turning to History to Understand the Relationship between Parisians and Their River

Abstract

For centuries, the Seine’s relationship with Paris has evolved alongside Parisians’ changing expectations – for the river as a source of supplies, as a space for leisure and as a force to be kept in check. Meeting the new challenges of the twenty-first century will require the development of more integrated river management, including an overall plan and better coordination between the various institutions responsible for the river and its functions. Promoting the river’s heritage could be one way to enhance its public image and help to shape its future in ways that reflect the diversity of visions and uses it sustains.