Top 10 most beautiful outdoor pools in France
This summer the heat lingers in France and not everyone can enjoy the seaside. This is the opportunity to discover the most beautiful public aquatic spaces in France with our selection of the 10 best outdoor pools in France.
This summer the heat lingers in France and not everyone can enjoy the seaside. This is the opportunity to discover the most beautiful public aquatic spaces in France with our selection of the 10 best outdoor pools in France.
1) Les Bains des Docks in Le Havre
This municipal pool in Le Havre is a must-visit when exploring the region. It is certainly the most modern and design-conscious in France with its architecture by Jean Nouvel. The balneotherapy treatments on offer make it ideal for a moment of relaxation. The pool is also recommended for its value for money. It is located, as the name suggests, just next to the Vauban docks, fairly close to the MUMA (Musée d’Art Moderne André Malraux). Several surrounding districts are very pleasant to visit: Sainte-Adresse, the Ville Haute, accessible by funicular, Saint-Roch park, the seafront…
2) The Nakache pool in Toulouse
It features one of the largest pools in France as well as an Olympic-sized pool and one for children; the facilities available in summer (picnic area, volleyball net…) make it a very pleasant place. The prices here are also affordable, to the great delight of visitors seeking respite from the heat. The city of Toulouse, very dynamic, offers numerous activities for visits and discovery such as the Capitole, the emblematic building of the city, the Saint-Sernin basilica (one of the largest Romanesque buildings in the west), the Canal du Midi and as the aerospace capital, the Cité de l’Espace whose entrance is fairly pricey but worth it.
3) Roger Salengro Pool in Bruay-la-Buissière
The Roger Salengro Pool is perfect for a refreshing afternoon. Its art deco style makes it the last accessible pool of this kind in France. The authenticity of the site, its maintenance, and the services provided are always the subject of very positive reviews. The entire Stade-Parc surrounding the pool, listed as a Historical Monument since 1997, is also a must-visit. To complete your visit to Bruay-la-Buissière: the Jacques Deramaux Mine Museum, the Béthune Belfry, the Château de la Buissière and Saint-Martin’s Church.
4) The Tony Bertrand Nautical Centre in Lyon
This is a superb outdoor pool bordering the Rhône and was built for Lyon’s bid to host the 1968 Summer Olympics. With also recreational facilities, it will satisfy all profiles looking to cool down in summer. As in most pools, aquabike and aquagym classes take place and aquatic entertainment is offered throughout the summer such as water polo. On Thursdays, Saturdays and Sunday mornings, the second largest flea market in France, Les Puces du Canal, is open in the city - a heads-up for antique dealers and enthusiasts. The City Aventure course in Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon promises adventure and thrills for treetop adventure enthusiasts!
Swim in the mountains at Samoëns in Haute-Savoie, the municipal pool has two 25m pools, a paddling pool and a slide. The lawn, the ball games park and the sun terrace make it a complete place to spend the day with family or friends. The resort of Samoëns is renowned for all the activities, both sporting and recreational, it offers such as guided tours or on the little train of the resort, climbing (via ferrata and cordata), mountaineering, speleology etc.
6) Pool des Marquisats in Annecy
The setting of the pool des Marquisats is simply wonderful and very well located at the entrance to Annecy. Available: an Olympic-sized pool, two 25m pools and a paddling pool for the little ones including a water play area. Warning, the pool is not heated. A refreshing assured, especially after a sporting day in the mountains or simply after visiting the town via the Vieille Ville, with its medieval architecture, the canals that make Annecy the “Venice of the Alps”.
7) Josephine Baker Pool in Paris
This very innovative pool, with its floating structure on the Seine, delights Parisians and tourists alike. It has two pools, one for children and the other is intended for fun on one side and for doing lengths on the other. The entry fee is €3.60 which remains very reasonable! The pool is near Austerlitz station, and it is about a twenty-minute walk from the Jardin des Plantes, around which you can find notably, the National Museum of Natural History (5th arrondissement). For those who prefer to get there more quickly, there is always the metro or Vélib!
8) The aquatic complex in Montauban
This aquatic space is exceptional with its 50-metre outdoor pool, its slides and its jacuzzis. They are available and delight both young and old! The complex is therefore suited to sport as well as relaxation. In the heart of the town of Montauban there are many places to see: the Montauban Cathedral of Notre-Dame, the heritage centre, the Hazart gallery studio and finally the Terroir museum.
9) Roger Le Gall Pool in Paris
Located near the Bois de Vincennes, the Roger Le Gall pool is certainly the most exotic in Paris, you would not think you were in Paris anymore! The trees bordering the pool provide shelter from the sun which is not unpleasant in these times of extreme heat.
The Aqualud is one of the unmissable Touquet institutions! It is impossible to miss this space when walking along the Touquet sea wall. The pool is rich in attractions for children (and grown-up children). There is also a relaxation area with jacuzzi and artificial waves. Located in the town centre, the pool is very accessible and allows you to visit other places when passing through, such as rue Saint-Jean and its shops or the covered market which takes place three times a week.
Make the most of summer to go and visit the beautiful outdoor pools in France for a successful holiday!
