You'll Never Guess Who's Living in the Seine

The Seine and the Pont Bir-Hakeim │
The Seine and the Pont Bir-Hakeim │ | © Zoltán Vörös / Flickr
Paul McQueen

‘So quietly flows the Seine,’ wrote Henry Miller in Tropic of Cancer, ‘that one hardly notices its presence. It is always there, quiet and unobtrusive, like a great artery running through the human body.’ In that same river, unobserved by the Parisians walking along its banks and over its bridges, there live dozens of creatures, some tiny, some giant, and a peculiar few that have no business being there at all.

European eel

When the first Parisians settled on the Île de la Cité 2,000 years ago, the river lapping against its muddy shoreline was teeming with fish. By the middle of the 20th century, construction and pollution had wiped out all but the hardiest of species. The European eel was one of the five to hang on. After a concerted effort by environmentalists, the water quality has been significantly improved and the Seine now supports 37 species of fish. The eels are one of the largest, reaching lengths of up to 133 centimeters, however, they would have been dwarfed by the five-meter sturgeons that once swam here.

speech icon man in bubble

Destinations Unlocked:

Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture trip

Looking for an expert's perspective?

Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
speech icon man in bubble
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

Basket of eels │

Sea Lamprey

As weirs and locks were constructed to facilitate the movement of raw materials and goods on barges, it became impossible for migratory species to get from the mouth of the Seine at Le Havre to their spawning grounds. Only the eel, which can cover large distances on land in wet weather, survived. The sea lamprey, sturgeon, salmon, trout, smelt, and shad all disappeared. The reopening of essential passageways has since allowed this monstrous-looking fish to return. At the end of its 120-centimeter body, it has concentric circles of sharp suckers with which it latches on to passing fish in order to feast on their scales, flesh, and blood. Charming.

Lamprey mouth │

Atlantic Salmon

The Atlantic salmon, which remains on the European Union’s endangered species list, had vanished from the Seine by 1900. When a 1,000-strong shoal of them appeared in Paris in the summer of 2009 it brought tears to the eyes of the city’s fishermen and women. Their 150-kilometer journey from the Atlantic Ocean was a sure sign that the effort to clean up the entire extent of the river was starting to pay off. Their comeback remains in its early days but one day soon Paris’ finest riverside restaurants might be serving fish caught just a few meters away.

Salmon │

Wels Catfish

This enormous species of catfish is native to southern, central, and eastern Europe and was introduced to the Seine as a sport fish. Their population in Parisian waters is now huge in terms of both number and weight – they can reach up to 150 pounds – and they can be caught with relative ease on the river and along the canals. A quick search on YouTube will throw up dozens of videos of catfish catches, some within sight of the city’s most famous landmarks.

Catfish │

Great Cormorant

These vaguely prehistoric seabirds can be observed flying low over the river’s surface, diving deep in search of prey, or basking in the sun on posts and pontoons. Cormorants have been traditionally used for fishing in China and Japan as well as in Greece and Macedonia, where the practice developed independently as a form of aquatic falconry. In the 16th and 17th century, the method was tried out in England and France but it never caught on in quite the same way. One of the best places to see these birds in action is where the canal meets the river at the Île Louviers.

Cormorant │

Grey Heron

The heron is one of those animals that has perfectly adapted to urban life. Its omnivorous diet of fish, amphibians and even small birds and mammals means that it can always find something to eat and the tall trees planted in city parks hundreds of years ago are perfect for heronries. While you can see herons anywhere on the Seine that is not so noisy that the birds have been scared away, you are guaranteed to see them around the edges of the ponds in Paris’ two outlying parks, the Bois de Boulogne and the Bois de Vincennes.

Heron │

Kingfisher

The kingfisher, with its dazzling plumage of orange and electric blue, can’t help but inspire great art. Members of the Seine’s native population have been rendered in an 1886 oil painting by Vincent Van Gogh and compared with admiration to a ‘blue flame’ by Guy de Maupassant in his short story Mouche from 1890. Sadly, like the fish on which it feeds, the kingfisher was absent from Parisian life for much of the century that followed. Twitchers now enthusiastically broadcast their whereabouts such as when one took up residence in the Parc Montsouris in 2014 and another in the Parc de Bercy in 2015.

Kingfisher │

American Red Crayfish

The Seine has several native species of crustaceans but today some of the most numerous are expatriates, less euphemistically described by the United Nations as invasive species and one of the major causes of the decline in biodiversity. The American red crayfish, Turkish crayfish and Louisiana red crayfish have colonized Parisian waters and are on the government’s watch list. When invasive crayfish populations get out of control, causing damage to habitats and native species, as is the case on the Thames, the best solution that has so far been found is to eat the problem into submission.

American red crayfish │

Alligator Snapping Turtle

The Seine also has a history of strange solitary creatures showing up in its waters. One of the most alarming was in June 2009 when an elderly man came across a 220-pound alligator snapping turtle, so named for its elongated tail and extremely powerful jaws, on a Sunday morning walk. It wasn’t, however, the first unlikely reptile to show up in the capital’s waterways, which are normally only home to the harmless wall lizard. On March 7th, 1984, sewer workers stumbled on a Nile crocodile. At just 80 centimeters, it was nowhere near full grown but a perturbing find nonetheless.

Alligator snapping turtle │

Coypu

The rat, which is currently enjoying a frightening population boom, was for a long time that only mammal, humans aside, that spent any time along the banks of the Seine. However, in recent years, the capital has been colonized by coypu or nutria, a much larger rodent originally imported from South America to be used in the fur trade. Escapees and thoughtlessly released animals have since made their homes across large swathes of France, causing no small amount of damage to hydraulic structures. Nevertheless, the sight of these exotic, terrier-sized animals swimming in the Seine is quite a treat.

Coypu
culture trip left arrow
 culture trip brand logo

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

women sitting on iceberg

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

culture trip logo letter c
group posing for picture on iceberg
group posing for picture on iceberg

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points
culture trip brand logo
culture trip right arrow
landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

X

Holiday Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

Edit article