Paris Plages back for another year

THE BANK of the River Seine in Paris has been transformed into a beach once again for the ninth annual Plages festival, which opens today.

Construction firm and event sponsor Lafarge has spent five days shipping in tonnes of sand from a quarry in the Yvelines for the event.

The right bank along the Voie Georges Pompidou and the Bassin de la Villette in the 19th arrondissement have been set up with 250 sunbeds and parasols, 800 chairs, 50 palm trees and 16 beach cafes.

More than four million people are expected to enjoy this year's event, which was set up by the city authorities to help low-income families who cannot afford a holiday.

Fnac will once again sponsor a series of 30 free concerts in front of the Hôtel de Ville throughout the month-long festival.

This year's budget has been cut by about 10%, from €2.5m to €2.2m, and a number of key sponsors have pulled out because of the economic crisis, including Dailymonop, Orange and EDF.

The beach will remain in place until August 20.

Photo credit: Mairie de Paris