Did you know that swimming is the second most popular sports activity and pastime in France, after hiking, according to a study by Statista?
Every year, millions of people in France flock to one of the thousands of public swimming pools located in cities and towns across France, and you can too for just a few euros.
French towns usually have at least one public pool for their residents. Bigger cities have multiple public pools, such as Paris, which has an impressive 39 public swimming pools.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at 39 extraordinary and beautiful public French swimming pools in France that are open to the public. So, let’s dive in!
If you’re visiting a city in France not on this list, you can search for local pools by location, size, price, etc. Here’s the link. www.guide-piscine.fr/guide-des-piscines/,
For this list, I handpicked public pools and aquatic centres in France that I think stand out from the rest.
- Some are historical sites that date back to the early 1900s with interesting period architecture.
- Others are in breathtaking locations with spectacular views.
- A handful of these French pools are modern architectural marvels with that ‘je ne sais quoi”.
- And some are so chock-full of amenities: they seem more like an aquatic amusement park than they do a public pool.
How to day swimming pool in French
- piscine {Pi-Seen} = Pool or swimming pool
- piscine municipale {Pi-Seen Muu-Nee-see-Pal} = public swimming pool.
RELATED: mushroom foraging, which can get a little dangerous.
Public Pools in France are better than you think, but…
Although the public swimming pools on this list are extraordinary (relatively speaking), remember to set your expectations. Public pools in France generally meet or exceed my expectations in one way or another. That’s not to say that every municipal pool in France is picture-perfect.
If you’re up for swimming with locals in a pool that stands out from the rest, then read on.
If you’re looking for a serene, five-star swimming experience with still water in a quiet spa-like environment, it’s unlikely to happen at a French public pool.
Tips about public pools in France
- Because of the low entry fee (a few Euros) and popularity, public pools in France can get crowded and loud. Especially in larger cities, in warmer months and during children’s school holiday breaks. Crowds mean more dirt.
- Don’t assume a pool is open. Check pool schedules and hours. Some pools close during the winter and or summer for maintenance or other reasons.
- Public pools usually cost anywhere from two to eight euros, depending on the facility and the location. If there are saunas or workout rooms, those will cost a little extra.
- Swimming caps are always required. (bonnet de piscine)
- Only certain types of swimming suits are allowed in French public pools. Board shorts are usually not acceptable. (see the photo above of acceptable swimming attire. )
Swimming Pools In Paris
Let’s start this list with my top 10 Parisian public pools either for their beauty or unique features and amenities.
1) Piscine Pontoise (Paris)
Address: 19 Rue de Pontoise, 75005 Paris, France.
5th arrondissement in the Latin quarter close to boulevard Saint-Germain.
www.paris.fr/equipements/piscine-pontoise-2918
If this pool looks familiar, it’s because Lucien Pollet, the same architect who designed the Molitor pool, also designed this pool— constructed in 1934, 4 years after the Molitor.
This lovely 33m pool is set inside a stunning art-deco building. Its enormous glass ceiling and mosaic frescoes are flanked by two mezzanine levels with vintage changing cabins. And like the Molitor, this pool is a historical monument. The downside is that there is only one pool, so this pool can get quite crowded. It’s also in a popular location near the Notre Dame Cathedral.
Pay a few euros more, and you can use the sauna, squash court, cardio room, and fitness courses. Or go during “nocturne,” night swimming to music from 8 pm to midnight on certain nights, for 11,10 €.
2) Piscine Pailleron (Paris)
Address: 32 rue Edouard Pailleron, 75019
www.pailleron19.com/
Designed by Lucien Pollen, the same designer of the Molitor and Pontoise pools
Located in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, next to the trendy Buttes Chaumont park is the Pailleron pool nestled inside a charming historic red brick building with an art deco interior.
There is a two-level mezzanine with vintage individual changing cabins. The pool opened in 1933 but was abandoned in 1998. Following a few years of restoration, it reopened in 2006 with a new integrated sports complex. The filtered light that comes through the glass roof gives the pool lots of natural light. In the summer, the pool opens its lawn area, where you can see French families and couples tanning on towels.
3) Piscine Hébert (Paris)
The secret art deco pool in Paris
Addressee: 2 rue des Fillettes 18e Paris
www.paris.fr/equipements/piscine-hebert-2943
One of the best-kept aquatic secrets in Paris is the Hébert pool, hidden behind the Marx Dormay metro station across from a small wooded square in the 18th arrondissement. This pool is far away from the busy Paris center, so it’s usually quiet and calm, unlike many other more popular pools around Paris.
The pool opened in 1896 as a sort of bathhouse fed and heated by artesian wells but was completely renovated in 1990. Its two swimming pools measure 25m x 12m and 12m x 12m and are well-lit thanks to the buildings’ modern solarium design and the roof that opens up.
At just 3,50 € per entry, it’s an affordable way to get some laps in if you’re near the 18th arrondissement.
4) Piscine Roger le Gall (Paris)
Care to go skinny dipping in Paris?
Address: 34 boulevard Carnot 75012 PARIS (12th arrondissement)
www.paris.fr/equipements/piscine-roger-le-gall-2950
The Roger Le Gall Swimming Pool might seem like your run-of-the-mill pool, but what sets this pool apart is that you can skinny-dip here.
Three nights a week, the l’Association des naturistes de Paris (Paris Naturist Association) offers nude swimming at this pool.
If this sounds appealing to you and you want to go skinnydipping, show up with 10 Euros and your birthday suit. If your18 to 26, it’s only 5 euros. Got kids under 18? Bring them; they can swim in the buff for free as long as a paying adult accompanies them.
Although swimming in the nude is open to people of all ages and gender, there is typically more males than females. Typical!
Nudists swim nights: Monday, Wednesday and Friday (9 p.m.-11 p.m.) Check the nature club website as times and days may change. French site: naturistes-paris.fr/adhesion-et-visites/tarifs/
5) Paris Plages Bassin de la Villette (Paris)
The other Paris Beach you didn’t know about.
Address: Bassin de la Villette 75019 Paris, France
www.en.parisinfo.com/discovering-paris/major-events/paris-plages
Most visitors to Paris know about the Paris plage (Paris beach), a temporary artificial beach along the river Seine open from July to September. But did you know there’s a second Paris beach on the outskirts of Paris in the 19th arrondissement on the Quay de la Marne?
Le Bassin de la Villette is a set of 3 pools that jut out of the Quay on an artificial lake that connects the humanmade canals de l’Ourcq and Saint Martin. The pools vary in depth to accommodate both children, adult swimmers, and people with reduced mobility.
6) Piscine des Amiraux pool (Paris)
You may recognize piscine des amiraux (the admiral’s pool) immortalized in the French cult film “Amélie.”
Address: 6 Rue Hermann-Lachapelle, 75018 Paris, France
www.paris.fr/equipements/piscine-des-amiraux-2944
Designed by Henry Sauvage, the pool dates back to the 1920s. Monsieur Sauvage also invented the stepped building where the higher floors are set back like a step to give room for each tenant to have an open terrace. At the centre of the apartment building is where he put the municipal swimming pool.
In 2017, the pool closed but opened after two years and a 9.7 million euro restorative facelift. The restoration maintained the original Art Deco design’s integrity, including the double mezzanine levels surrounding the pool with individual changing cabins — a design feature in many older Art Deco pools.
7) Piscine Georges Vallerey formerly Piscine Les Tourelles (Paris)
The 1924 Olympics was the first pool to use the standard 50 m pool with marked lanes.
Address: 148 Avenue Gambetta, 75020 Paris, France. 20th arrondissement
https://www.vallerey-piscine.fr
Built for the 1924 Olympics, Piscine Les Tourelles was also the first Olympics to use the standard 50m pool with marked lanes, which we now call an Olympic-sized pool.
In 1989, the pool was renovated and reopened as piscine Georges Valley, although it’s often referred to by its original name. Sunbathers can get a tan when the weather permits, thanks to the retractable plexiglass roof added as part of the renovation.
8) Piscine de la Butte-aux-Cailles (Paris)
It feels like you’re swimming in a cathedral.
Address: 5 place Paul Verlaine, 75013 Paris. 13th arrondissement
www.paris.fr/equipements/piscine-de-la-butte-aux-cailles-2927
Housed inside a beautiful red brick building and registered as a historical monument is the Butte-aux-Cailles pool. The pool sits on top of an artesian well dug in 1893 and was initially a public shower and bathhouse before becoming a public swimming pool in 1924.
Piscine de la Butte-aux-Cailles is one of the oldest swimming pool in Paris and France.
There are three pools: two 25m by 12m exterior pools and a 33m indoor pool. Swimming in the interior pool, with its art deco high vaulted roof supported by several concrete parabolic arches, is like swimming in a white cathedral. The water temperature is kept warm thanks to the natural sulphurous spring, roughly 28°C.
9) La piscine Joséphine Baker (Paris)
Swim on the Seine river in a pool named after a famous Parisian transplant: American singer and actress
Address: Quai François Mauriac, 75013 Paris, France
www.piscine-baker.fr/
Take a walk down the Seine river towards the François Mitterrand library in the 13th arrondissement, and you’ll come across a floating pool that stands out from other Parisian public pools on this list. This impressive glass and steel barge created by architect Robert de Busni has a retractable glass roof and floats on the Seine river.
Due to its location and visibility, it is extremely popular (especially during the summer) and is often jam-packed with Parisians looking to enjoy an open-air swim, a workout in the fitness rooms, or to relax in the sunrooms, saunas, jacuzzi or hammam.
There’s also a wading pool where children love to splash around while parents watch. The pools are open all year round, and with an admission price of 4 Euros for visitors, this is a great place to add to your Paris bucket list.
10) Piscine Château-Landon (Paris)
Address : 31 R. du Château Landon, 75010 Paris, France
www.paris.fr/equipements/piscine-chateau-landon-2923
The Château-Landon was the first pool built in Paris that was also covered and heated. It dates back to 1884 and was initially a public shower and bathhouse before becoming a public swimming pool. It’s now one of the oldest pools in France.
Around 1925, it went through some renovations and was redesigned in the classic Art Deco liner. It has two mezzanine levels with private cabins which flank the 25 by 10 meters covered pool and a second learning pool of 10m 6 m pool. The high ceiling with glass windows lets in plenty of light and makes the space feel lofty and bright.
MONTPELLIER
Montpellier, located in southwestern France, is the 7th largest city in terms of population. It’s also one of the fastest-growing cities with the youngest population in all of France. It might be the closest thing you get to a college town. It’s also where I’ve lived since 2016 with my family.
11) Piscine Olympique d ‘Antigone (Montpellier)
Address: 195 Avenue Jacques Cartier, 34000 Montpellier, France
https://www.montpellier3m.fr/equipement/piscine-olympique-dantigone-montpellier
Piscine Olympique d ‘Antigone is my favourite pool on this list, but I’m biased because this is the public pool we use regularly, and it’s where my daughter took synchronized swimming classes.
Piscine Olympique d ‘Antigone is a modern bi-level sports complex (called POA by the locals). It’s big and bright thanks to its retractable roof and glass enclosure.
There’s an Olympic-sized swimming pool dedicated to serious swimmers and swimming clubs like the polo team and my daughter’s synchronized swimming team. There’s also a jacuzzi and a fun recreational pool with a giant slide where people congregate to talk and kids splash around very loudly.
A full-price adult entrance fee is 5.20 €, or you can get a family pass for 13.20 € (2 adults +2 children). There are also aquatic classes and activities open to the general public for an additional fee.
Issy-les-Moulineaux
Issy-les-Moulineaux is a suburb of Paris, just 6km from Eglise Notre Dame, considered km zero of France.
12) Piscine Aqua Zena (Issy-les-Moulineaux )
Possibly the only Zen Feng Sui public pool in France
Address: 140-144, Promenade du verger 92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux
www.aquazena-issy.fr/
Unlike Paris’s art deco pools, the Aqua Zena pool is a very modern experience with recessed rounded skylights and rounded corners. It’s got an almost retro 1960s feel to it. Mikou Design Studio designed this 14.5 million Euro Piscine du Fort structure in 2014.
They engaged Feng shul specialist Laurence Dujardin to guide them in understanding Feng shul’s Chinese philosophical system. Their water in the swimming pools is ozone-treated, so there’s no chlorine smell.
A full-price adult ticket costs 4,70€. You can also buy a day pass, which gives you access to everything- the fitness centre, solarium, squash courts, sauna, and hammam. Hungry? Have a bite in the cafeteria.
Creil
The perfect day trip from Paris is Creil, a short 25-minute train ride.
13) la piscine de Creil
Address: 1 Rue de la République, 60100 Creil, France
www.creil.fr/equipements-sportifs
Another art deco pool was inaugurated in 1926. The Creil pool was initially modelled after the Parisian pools Butte-aux-Cailles (1923) and Stade Nautique des Tourelles (1924).
During WW2, the pool was heavily damaged during air raids and bombings, but it was rebuilt in 1963. Over the years, the facilities became dilapidated and out of date, so it was given another update in 2013. The result is a modern pool with updated facilities, and art deco touches.
For a mere 4,30 €, visitors can swim in the beautiful 25m pool or splash around in the fun pool with water jets where you have a view overlooking the Oise River thanks to the glass windows. For an extra 4,30 €, take advantage of the sauna and hammam.
Biarritz
In the heart of Basque Country, Biarritz, just 40 minutes from the Spanish border, offers visitors a unique atmosphere. Known for its thriving surf scene, beaches, and therapeutic water, it’s a place where posh restaurants and spas live side by side, lowbrow pizza joints and surf shops.
14) Piscine Municipale (Biarritz)
Address: Boulevard du Général de Gaulle, 64200 Biarritz, France
www.tourisme.biarritz.fr/
An indoor pool with huge bay windows overlooking the beach
For a few Euros, swimmers can dip their toes in one of two heated indoor sea-water pools in an elegant art deco building. Swimmers can also relax on the indoor decks in front of the large bay windows, where you’ll have a view of the beach on the Bay of Biscay.
Aix en Provence
Does Aix en Provence even need a description?
15) Piscine Yves Blanc (Aix en Provence)
Address: 26 Avenue des Écoles Militaires, 13100 Aix-en-Provence, France
www.agglo-paysdaix.fr/
Peter Mayle (RIP) never mentions the Yves Blanc public pool in his book “A Year in Provence.” However, it’s worth visiting this newly renovated complex, which features a 50m eight-lane outdoor pool under a retracting roof with stadium seating and a smaller 25m indoor pool. There’s also a wading pool for the little ones right outside the building.
You have to see it to believe it. Check out this video showing the pool and building modifications. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQe71HuOtGM
Bordeaux
Out of the six public pools in Bordeaux, France’s ninth-largest city, two stand out.
16) La piscine de Bègles (Bordeaux)
Address: Rue Carnot, 33130 Bègles, France
https://www.mairie-begles.fr/les-bains/
Situated in a 1932 art deco building in Bordeaux, France, is a 25m swimming pool with hammam and patio. You can also practice climbing or biking in a grassy landscaped area. And if you’re hungry, grab a quick bite at the restaurant/tea room.
17) La piscine Judaïque (Bordeaux)
Address: 164 Rue Judaïque, 33000 Bordeaux, France
www.bordeaux.fr/o213/piscine-judaique
Guys, bring your speedos here. No joke!
For 5.05 euros, you can swim in one of 2 pools at the Judaique pool in Bordeaux, hidden behind a giant concrete portico of a former riding school dating back to the 1800s.
By contrast, the interior is very modern, open and light.
The retractable roof and glass wall, which divides the two pools, can open up, giving the illusion that both pools are side by side outdoors.
This pool has a reputation for being extremely strict about its bathing suit policy, specifically for men. Many male reviewers have complained that they were asked to exit the pool because they were not wearing speedo-type swimming trunks.
Lyon
Lyon, France’s third-largest city in terms of population, has 11 public pools, but there’s one that stands out from the rest because of its location, view, and amenities. This pool is a victim of its success.
18) Centre Nautique Tony Bertrand formerly La Piscine du Rhône (Lyon)
Swimming on the Rhone River
Address: 8 quai Claude Bernard, 69007 Lyon France
www.lyon.fr/node/29554
In the heart of Lyon on the left bank of the Rhone River is le centre Nautique Tony Bertrand, also known by its former name piscine du Rhône. This pool gets extremely popular, especially during the warmer months when many Lyonnais locals complain of waiting up to an hour to gain entry.
Once inside, it’s worth the wait. The open-air outdoor pools give you a spectacular view of the city and the Rhone River. There’s a 50m Olympic size pool for laps. A huge 168m x 24 m pool sectioned off to give swimmers a fun slide area, a wading area with water jets for kids, and a larger space for splashing around.
The centre is open all year round, and the price of regular admission is 3.40 euros, while locals pay 2.60 euros. Definitely worth a visit, especially if you have kids or want to get in some laps to burn off all those croissants you ate.
Rennes
Like Strasbourg, Rennes, Brittany’s capital city in northwest France, is known for its traditional half-timbered houses.
19) Saint-Georges pool (Rennes)
Bark at the moon while swimming in an art deco pool
Address: 2 Rue Gambetta, 35000 Rennes, France
www.metropole.rennes.fr/les-horaires-des-piscines
Classified as a historical art deco monument is Renne’s first swimming pool, which opened in 1925.
It was designed by Architect Emmanuel Le Rayhe, who based his design on the Butte-aux-Cailles pool built in 1923 as well as the pool in the Nancy thermal complex, built-in 1904.
Strasbourg
20) Les Bains municipaux de Strasbourg
It’s like swimming in a museum
Address: 10 Boulevard de la Victoire, 67000, Strasbourg, France
¤¤update: this pool was closed in June of 2018 for renovations which will take several years.
https://www.strasbourg.eu
A visit to Les Bains municipaux de Strasbourg (the bathhouse of Strasbourg) is like swimming in an ancient ruin or museum.
First inaugurated in 1908, it’s considered one of the oldest bath complexes in the world. It features two swimming pools, Roman baths, a sauna (previously the medicinal baths), a steam room, and marble pools at different temperatures.
This splendour sits inside a beautiful neo-Romanesque style building, listed as a historical monument since 2000.
Unfortunately, the pools are very rundown but are due for a complete renovation and will likely be transformed into a well-being centre.
Lingolsheim
Lingolsheim is a suburb of Strasbourg you might not have heard of, but this refreshing pool should be on your list.
21) Piscine de Lingolsheim
Address: 15 Rue de Normandie, 67380 Lingolsheim, France
www.strasbourg.eu/lieu/-/entity/sig/406_SPO_7
Swimming in a sunflower pool (Piscine tournesol) that looks like a spaceship
photo © Jean Baptiste Dorner, Communauté Urbaine de Strasbourg
The pool in Lingolsheim, a banlieue of Strasbourg, is one of 183 prefabricated pools built in the late ’70s and early 80’s called Les piscines tournesols (sunflower pools).
Some say it looks like a UFO, while others think it looks like a mushroom. Either way, the sunflower pool has a place in history; many French adults and children learned to swim in a sunflower pool. Unfortunately, half of the original 183 sunflower pools have either been destroyed or fallen in disrepair and abandoned.
A few lucky ones, like this one, have been beautifully restored. It’s like swimming in a spaceship.
Toulouse
There are 12 municipal pools in Toulouse, including the largest outdoor pool in France and Europe.
22) Alfred Nakache summer and winter pools (Toulouse)
Home to the largest outdoor pool in France and Europe.
Address: 31400 Allée Gabriel Biénès, 31400 Toulouse, France
www.toulouse.fr/web/sports/piscines/nakache-ete
There are two pools set on 1.85 acres (7,500 square meters) at a swimming centre called Piscine du parc des sports Alfred Nakache. It’s located on the small island of Ramier in the middle of the Garonne River in Toulouse and it was named after the French Olympic swimmer and water polo player born in Algeria. One outdoor pool is open in the summer, and the other indoor pool is open in the winter.
Nakache été (summer)
Nakache été (Nakache summer), first inaugurated in 1931, is a whopping 150m (492 ft) long and 48 m (157 ft) wide; it’s the largest outdoor pool in France and Europe.
At the far end of the été pool is a man-made Grotte (cave) with a cascading waterfall made of lava from Mount Vesuvius, now listed as a historical monument.
The pool area also features four picnic areas, two paved beach areas for swimmers to sunbathe, and various sports activities such as outdoor volleyball. This pool is extremely popular during the summer months. It gets incredibly crowded as people try to cool down in the hot Toulouse weather.
Nakache hiver (winter)
The Nakache winter swimming pool was built in 1934 and is set inside a remarkable art deco building that’s been classified as a historic monument.
The pool is only open during the summer months. During the winter months, swimmers can head next door to the Nakache hiver (Nakache winter). It features a 25 m and 16 m pool enclosed in a building with Art Deco touches.
Thonon-Les-Bains
Thonon-Les-Bains is an adorable spa town situated on the edge of Lake Geneva.
23) Plage Municipal (Thonon-Les-Bains)
Swim on lake Geneva
Address: Quai de Ripaille,74200 Thonon-Les-Bains
www.ville-thonon.fr/165-piscine.htm
Another outdoor pool overlooking a body of water is a pool called Plage municipal (public beach), located in Thonon-Les-Bain, an hour from Geneva, Switzerland on Lake Geneva (French: lac Léman).
There are three superb full-size swimming pools enclosed in a grassy park with plenty of trees. There’s a smaller pool for diving: a shallower children’s pool and an Olympic size pool which sits right on Lake Geneva. There’s also a fantastic 100 Metre long slide that winds itself through the park around the pools.
A standard entry is 4.50 euros, but locals pay 3.50, and children under three are free.
Dieppe
Dieppe is a fishing port on the Normandy coast of northern France.
24) Les Bains (Dieppe)
Swim with a view of a 1000-year-old castle
Address: 101 Boulevard de Verdun, 76200 Dieppe, France
www.lesbainsdedieppe.fr/
Dieppe’s swimming complex is located right off the beach with AMAZING views of Château de Dieppe, a restored castle founded in 1188. The complex features two 50m seawater pools, one indoor and one outdoor pool.
Chamonix
Chamonix, known for its fantastic skiing, is a French resort city nestled at the foot of Mont Blanc. It also shares a border with Switzerland and Italy
25) Centre Sportif Richard Bozon (Chamonix)
The hills are alive with swimmers.
Address: 214 Avenue de la Plage, 74400 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France
www.cc-valleedechamonixmontblanc.fr/
The Centre Sportif Richard Bozon in Chamonix is a multipurpose sports complex with a lot to offer.
It features a 25m indoor pool, a play pool with a waterfall, river rapids, water jets, a 130m covered water slide, a solarium, a jacuzzi and a hammam. The 50m outdoor pool gives you breathtaking views of rocky mountains tipped with snow and is open from June to September while the indoor pool is open all year round.
Prices are steeper here at 7 euros for adults and 5 for kids.
Hyerès
A city on the French Riviera and one of my favourite outdoor pools.
26) Complexe Aquatique-Piscine (Hyères Les Palmiers)
It’s the French Riviera.
Address: 37 ave Ambroise Thomas 83400 Hyères France
http://www.ville-hyeres.fr/agenda/complexe-aquatique-piscine
I had to include a pool from the French Riviera because, well, it’s the Riviera. I also lived here with my children and husband for almost five years before moving to Montpellier.
Getting to this pool can be a little complicated. You need a car, or you need to take the bus. There is no tram or metro in town. There are three main pools, including an Olympic outdoor pool, a 25m indoor pool, and a 12.5m kids pool. There’s also a 21m long slide, a fun pool area with a jacuzzi, hydro-massage jets, massage benches, and a paddling pool. For a few euros extra, you can use the Hammam and Sauna.
I can’t prove this, but my husband used to swim at this pool quite often and said that women often took their tops off in the outdoor lap pool.
Only on the Riviera.
Le Havre
27) Les Bains des Docks (Le Havre)
A futuristic modern pool.
Address: Quai de la Réunion, 76600 Le Havre, France
www.vert-marine.info/lesbainsdesdocks/
Inspired by Roman baths, Le Bains des Docks is a vast complex of 10 indoor and outdoor pools of varying sizes, including an Olympic-sized pool.
Once inside, straight, boxy designs painted white surround you. It feels and looks very futuristic.
Chartres
28) L’Odyssée (Chartres)
France’s largest aquatic centre, Europe’s largest wave pool and largest running river pool.
Address: Rue du Médecin Général Beyne, 28000 Chartres, France
www.vert-marine.info/odyssee/
Opened: September 25, 2009
What sets this place apart is its size and amenities. One look around the Complexe Aquatique de l’Odyssée, and you might think you’re in an oasis aquatic park.
Largest aquatic centre in France
With over 5000 sq. Meters of surface water, it’s the largest aquatic centre in France. There are not one but two Olympic-sized pools where swimmers can swim laps to their heart’s content.
Europe’s largest wave pool and running river pool
Visitors can float along Europe’s largest wave pool, immerse themselves in Europe’s largest running river, or jettison down one of several slides. There is also an outdoor lagoon and wading pools for the kiddies to splash around. During the summer, the outdoor volleyball and man-made beach areas are quite popular with families and couples, especially when the temperatures start to rise.
There’s a sauna, a hammam, and a relaxing spa with massaging jets for those who want more of a spa experience.
Like many public pools, there is an assortment of swimming classes for kids and adults offered throughout the year, including scuba diving classes. A full-price entry for one adult is around 7 euros.
Watch this video; your kids will beg you to take them here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o0qyPY9K4U
Limoges
Limoge is a city in Southcentral France on the Vienne River, most famous for its Limoge porcelain dolls and industry since the 18th century.
29) Centre Aquatique Aquapolis (Limoges)
Address: 359 Rue Aristide Briand, 87100 Limoges, France
https://www.vert-marine.info/aquapolis/
Like the aquatic centre in Chartes, the Limoge Aquatic Centre is like a big aquatic amusement centre.
It has a beautiful Olympic sports pool, a 25m learning and activity Pool with a moving floor, Lagunas, slides, a 3-level diving pit, workout rooms, a man-made pool river, classes, and more.
Sainte-Radegonde
If you’re ever in the Loire Valley, this place is like the Disneyland of pools.
30) Les Bassins du Thouet (Sainte-Radegonde)
Address: Rue Raoul Follereau, 79100 Sainte-Radegonde, France
www.bassins-du-thouet.fr/horaires-tarifs
Made for a new generation, the aquatic centre in Sainte-Radegonde is another giant aquatic complex. Besides a huge indoor and outdoor pool, there are play pools, a 25m Nordic pool, slides, a sauna, a jacuzzi, a workout room, a hammam and aquatic classes.
The basic entry fee for one adult is 5 euros. You’ll pay extra to use the sauna, hammam, workout room, and classes.
Villenave d’Ornon
Villenave d’Ornon is the fourth-largest suburb of Bordeaux.
31) Piscine Olympique (Villenave d’Ornon)
Address: 145 Route de Léognan, 33140 Villenave-d’Ornon, France
https://www.villenavedornon.fr/culture-sport-loisirs/piscine-olympique-municipale/
This large complex has an eight-lane Olympic-sized swimming pool, several smaller pools, a solarium & sauna and plenty of classes. They claim to be able to accommodate up to 1072 bathers simultaneously.
Bruay-La-Buissière
32) piscine Salengro (Bruay-La-Buissière)
The only outdoor Art Deco pool in France.
Address: 716 Rue Augustin Caron, 62700 Bruay-la-Buissière, France
http://bruaylabuissiere.fr/index.php/piscine-art-deco/
Constructed in the 1930s, this stadium-park and swimming pool in northern France is one of the few remaining outdoor art deco pools still existing in France. It’s also a world heritage site.
It’s also one of the few public pools in France where swimming caps are not mandatory.
Saint-Martin-Vésubie
Saint-Martin-Vésubie is a small picturesque village located 1000 meters above sea level, roughly two hours north of Nice and Cannes.
33) Vesúbia Mountain Park (Saint-Martin-Vésubie)
A family’s indoor paradise, rain or shine.
Address: Allée du Dr Fulconis, 06450 Saint-Martin-Vésubie, France
Vesubia-mountain-park.fr/Acces-Libre-Espace-Aquatique_77_82_97.html
The Vésubia Mountain Park activity center is a must-visit, especially if you want to go somewhere truly unique with the kids. The aquatic area features a 25 m pool, outdoor beach area, sunroom, hydro-massage bench, massage nozzle and paddling pool for the little ones. Access to the pool area is around 6 euros for an adult and 4 for children up to age 12.
You can try indoor rock climbing, indoor zipline, and even indoor canyoning and spelunking for an additional fee. Prices for these extra activities vary but expect to pay around 12 euros per hour.
Mérignac
34) Stade Nautique (Mérignac)
Address: 68 Avenue du Truc, 33700 Mérignac, France
www.merignac.com/equipement/stade-nautique-jean-badet
The 50m x 15m pool is under an interesting bubble tench, making the pool bright but keeping the direct sunlight out. There is also a small 25m x 10m pool, a paddling pool for children from 1 to 6 years, and a diving pit (these 2 activities are only available in summer). There’s a sauna for adults and children, and if you’re hungry, head over to the restaurant open for lunch from Tuesday to Saturday.
Outdoor Seawater Pools On the Beach
Can’t make up your mind between swimming in the sea or a swimming pool? Dive into one of several open-air seawater pools (piscine d’eau de Mer ) dug out of France’s beaches on the Atlantic coast.
These pools were all built back in the late ’20s and ’30s, so swimmers could enjoy swimming in the sea even when the tide was out. The sea retreats very far out on the beaches in Northern France.
Saint-Malo
If you read Anthony Doerr‘s novel, “All the light we cannot see, you probably know a little something about Saint-Malo- a walled medieval port city in Brittany.
If not, you should read the book. I bought the audible version. Sign up and get 30 days of membership free. You’ll receive 1 audiobook and 2
Winner of the 2015 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. It's about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive World War II devastation. The girl and her father flee Nazi-occupied Paris to her uncle's house in the walled citadel of Saint-Malo.
35) La piscine Bon-Secours (Saint-Malo)
Address: 6 Rue de la Crosse, 35400 Saint-Malo, France
www.saint-malo-tourisme.com/
Directly on the Bon-Secour beach in Saint-Malo is a 5500 sq. Metre outdoor seawater pool. Inaugurated in 1937 by then-mayor M René, the swimming pool is open 24 hours a day, and it’s free.
Saint-Malo has one of the world’s most significant tidal changes, so the water in the pool changes up to twice a day at each tide. In comparison, seawater in the nearby sea pool in Dinard refreshes only on higher tides.
Check out this video and watch the kids dive right into the water. (start watching from 47 seconds)
Dinard
36) La piscine d’eau de mer de la Porte d’Émeraude (Dinard)
The seawater pool of the Emerald Gate
Address: 4 Prom. des Alliés, 35800 Dinard, France
The seawater pool in Dinard is located just 20 minutes from Saint-Malo and also has a diving platform.
37) Seawater pool on Prieuré beach (Dinard)
Address: 23 Avenue du Général Giraud, 35800 Dinard, France
Dinard has a second outdoor seawater pool on the beach. Just 21 minutes south of the seawater pool on Ecluse beach is a much quieter beach, Plage du Prieuré. Less is known about this particular pool, but you’ll have breathtaking views of not only the sea but the famous walled city Saint-Malo in Brittany.
Saint-Quay-Portrieux
38) Outdoor Saltwater Pool (Saint-Quay-Portrieux)
Address: 6 Rue de la Crosse, 35400 Saint-Malo, France
www.saintquayportrieux.com/voir-faire/sites-voir/piscine-eau-mer/
Châtelet beach is one of three beaches in Saint-Quay-Portrieuxc, a seaside resort town with another seawater pool. Built in 1929, around the same time as the other seawater pools on this list. The seawater is renewed at every high tide when the levels exceed 9m. (high tide can go as high as 12m completely hiding the pool.
The public pool turned into a museum in Roubaix.
The next time you’re in Lille, go to the neighbouring city of Roubaix. It has a fascinating pool inside a museum.
39) La Piscine (Roubaix)
The museum pool
Address: 23 Rue de l’Espérance, 59100 Roubaix, France
https://www.roubaix-lapiscine.com/
The pool in Roubaix originally opened in 1932 but closed in 1985 for safety reasons. In 2001, it reopened as Musée d’art et d’industrie, but most people just call it La Piscine Museum.
It’s a unique museum concept and an unusual setting for various works of art. Be sure to check out the stone figures and statues around the pool.
If you decide to visit the Piscine Museum, be sure to pick up the Lille City pass. For a little less than 30 USD, it gives you free access to more than 30 tourist sites and attractions in Lille, including the Piscine Museum of Art and Industry in Roubaix. Plus, you can use the pass to travel around the city for free on Lille’s metropolitan public transport network (metro, bus, tram)
Order your Lille city pass online and get instant confirmation.
Free entry to more than 30 tourist sites and attractions. Free use of Lille's metropolitan public transport network (metro, bus, tram). Discounts in selected restaurants and shops in Lille, Roubaix and Tourcoing. Free cancellation Cancel up to 24 hours in advance. To receive a full refund Mobile ticketing Vouchers must be exchanged for tickets. Duration: 24 - 72 hours
Vives les piscines municipales!
The public pools on this list may pale compared to some high-end hotel pools, but remember, these are public pools for the masses with a price point that you can’t beat.
For less than the cost of a Starbucks frappuccino coffee, you can spend the whole day, if you want, swimming and cooling down in these pools. It’s an excellent value for your money. Plus, you can flex your French language skills and experience what it’s like to live in France versus swimming at your hotel pool with other tourists.
