Why Are Paris's Tourist Boats Called 'Bateaux-Mouches'?

The iconic tourist boats on the Seine in Paris, known as 'bateaux-mouches,' are the subject of a recent video feature by France 24. The segment, published on August 28, 2026, explores the origin of the name, which has nothing to do with insects, despite 'mouches' meaning flies in French. The story delves into the history and the playful hoax surrounding the name, clarifying that it is a misnomer. The video is part of France 24's cultural programming, which also covers topics such as the death of Dolly Parton, the Statues of Liberty in Paris, the decline in book sales in France and the UK, the invention of cotton candy by a dentist, the Palace of Knossos and modern archaeology, the Bermuda Triangle mystery, Paris Syndrome, a Nigerian artist using clay for portraits, and the Grand Tour as a precursor to Erasmus. The feature is presented by France Médias Monde and includes cover image credits to Adobe Stock, Pexels, Unsplash, and Valentin Cacheux.