In summer time, many pools in Paris open their roofs to the delight of swimmers. All you have to do is choose the pool that most appeals to you and which suits your type of swimming: bucolic, Olympic, sporty or art deco … take your pick.
The most historic first with the Piscine de la Butte-aux-Cailles, the doyenne of Parisian establishments. Built in 1924, it is a listed monument with its superb art nouveau decor. In terms of facilities, it offers three pools, two of which are outside.
We continue diving into the past with the Piscine Pailleron, inaugurated in 1933. It is a gem of art deco and also a listed building. The icing on the cake: ozone treated water, a lot less polluting and not aggressive to hair. There is no open roof but there is an outdoor sundeck where you can bask in the sun before going for a dip.
© OTCP Marc Bertrand
To swim in the wake of champions, go to Piscine Georges Vallerey, inaugurated for the 1924 Olympic Games. It is there that the American Johnny Weissmuller (unforgettable Tarzan at the cinema) won the gold medal for the 400-metre freestyle event. The 50-metre pool has a retractable roof.
Enjoy a bucolic break at the Piscine d'Auteuil, in the Bois de Boulogne. It has two pools, one of which has a partially-retractable roof, as well as a sundeck out in the open amidst the trees.
Situated in a shady public garden in the north of Paris, the Piscine Hébert opens its roof in fine weather. A few steps from Buttes-Chaumont, the Piscine Georges Hermant has a retractable roof, a sundeck and terraces in the sun. Built at the heart of the Beaugrenelle district in the 1970s, the Piscine Keller has two pools with retractable roofs. For good swimmers, there is the Piscine Roger Le Gall, behind Place de la Nation. It has a 50-metre lap pool with an open roof in summer.
Completely offbeat, the Piscine Joséphine Baker is a floating pool, housed on a pontoon moored at Quai François-Mauriac in the 13th arrondissement. Thoroughly modern, it has a 25-metre pool treated with ozone. In fine weather, its mobile roof opens to give breathtaking views of the Seine. After a dip, you can sunbathe in a deckchair on the roof. Reservations are required to access the Joséphine Baker swimming pool.
Looking for a complete change of scene? Head to Aquaboulevard de Paris with its palm trees, artificial beaches and water the colour of a lagoon, at 29°C, big outdoor pools … No, you are not dreaming, you really are in Paris! Online booking is highly recommended to access Aquaboulevard de Paris.
