Paris-Plage, an urban beach project masterminded by Mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoe, has returned for a month to the banks of the river Seine following its successful introduction last year.

Aimed at providing a fake beach for any Parisians who can’t afford a summer holiday, last year’s inaugural Paris-Plage attracted over two million people and was deemed an instant success.

Paris-Plage was officially opened on 21 July after Delanoe arranged for 3000 tonnes of sand to be spread over the roads that line the banks of the Seine in Paris, running from the gardens of Tuileries to the Ile St Louis. This year, there are two beaches, complete with hundreds of deckchairs and palm trees.

A free event, plans for this year’s Paris-Plage include sandcastle competitions for kids and a large screen to watch the Tour de France. There will also be gym courses, a temporary library with books available for a EUR5 deposit and live music during the night with concerts taking place on a floating stage.

Following the success of last year’s Paris-Plage, the urban beach idea is also taking off around Europe. Berlin has constructed a federal press beach along the river Spree banks from 80 tonnes of Baltic sand while Budapest has built a similar beach on the Danube. Details: www.capcite.com