Paris is preparing for an intense heatwave following its warmest spring ever recorded. In an unprecedented move, city officials have opened the Canal Saint-Martin to swimmers, reversing a decades-old prohibition. This decision addresses the urgent need for public cooling spaces in a city ill-equipped to handle extreme temperatures. The opening provides Parisians with a rare opportunity to swim in the heart of the capital. Authorities anticipate high demand as temperatures are forecast to soar this week. The move signals a shift in how the city responds to increasingly frequent and severe heat events linked to climate change. This is an exceptional measure intended to provide immediate relief to residents.