Archipel des Berges de Seine Niki de Saint-Phalle

You are currently standing at the Archipel des Berges de Seine Niki de Saint-Phalle, a collection of five interconnected floating islands that bob gently on the surface of the Seine. Inaugurated in 2013, this unusual park functions as a living piece of urban engineering, with the platforms designed to fluctuate in height depending on the river level. While many public spaces in Paris are defined by stone and centuries of history, this archipelago is an intentionally fluid environment that prioritizes ecological connection, providing a dedicated sanctuary where birds can nest and local river flora can flourish. This space takes its name from Niki de Saint-Phalle, the celebrated French American artist known for her bold, monumental sculptures and her role as the only female member of the Nouveau Realiste movement. Though you will not find her signature brightly colored or curvaceous Nana sculptures here, the site acts as a tribute to her spirit of challenging conventions. Saint-Phalle herself was a self-taught force of nature who frequently used art to process her own traumatic past and to confront societal norms, once even infamously painting the genitals of statues at her boarding school in a defiant act of rebellion. By naming this tranquil, open-access garden after her, the city honors an artist who dedicated her life to transforming public spaces into sites of engagement and personal expression.