The Seine River: France's Historic Commercial and Cultural Artery

The Seine flows 780 km (485 mi) from Source-Seine in Burgundy northwest through Paris to the English Channel at Le Havre.

Key Features

• Navigable for 560 km (350 mi) to Rouen; ocean vessels reach Paris (306 km inland).
• Locks: Boissise, Suresnes, Saint-Aubin manage elevation changes.
• Tributaries: Aube, Yonne, Marne, Oise.
• Canal links: Somme, Meuse, Loire, Saône, Rhine.
• Basin: 77,700 km²; tidal influence to Rouen (120 km upstream).

Historical & Economic Role

• Viking raids (9th–10th c.)
• Trade artery for centuries
• Industry: engineering, auto, oil, chemicals along banks
• Paris landmarks: Notre-Dame, Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Musée d'Orsay line its banks.

The Seine is inseparable from French history, commerce, and identity.