Abandoned swimming pools, once bustling recreational spaces, now stand in a heavy silence, often overgrown with vegetation and bearing the marks of time. These empty pools, vestiges of a time when families spent their summer days there, have become popular destinations for urban explorers ( Urbex ). Here is a selection of ten abandoned swimming pools in France that will allow you to travel back in time and discover the fascinating history of these forgotten places. Please note: access to some of these sites can be dangerous and is often prohibited. It is essential to respect local laws and ensure your safety.
1. The Molitor Swimming Pool (Paris)
Before its renovation in 2014, the Piscine Molitor was one of Paris's most iconic swimming pools. Closed in 1989, it lay abandoned for over two decades, attracting street artists who covered its walls with graffiti. Its empty pools and crumbling Art Deco facades provided an incredible backdrop for urban exploration. Although restored, the Piscine Molitor remains an important site in the history of abandoned swimming pools in France.
2. The Tournesol swimming pool in Carcassonne (Aude)
The Tournesol swimming pools , created in the 1970s, were dome-shaped structures with glass walls. The Tournesol pool in Carcassonne , now abandoned, is one of these facilities. These places, once popular with families, are now ruined buildings, where vegetation has overgrown the pools and relaxation areas.
3. The Goussainville Swimming Pool (Val-d'Oise)
The Goussainville swimming pool , located in the ghost village of Goussainville-Vieux Pays, has been abandoned since the 1970s, following the construction of Roissy Airport. The water has been replaced by weeds, and the structure shows signs of advanced decay. This place offers a unique atmosphere, a blend of desolation and tranquility.
4. The swimming pool on Île de Vaires (Seine-et-Marne)
Located on the banks of the Marne River, the Île de Vaires swimming pool was a large open-air pool that was abandoned in the 1990s. The pools are now empty, the changing rooms are in ruins, and nature has gradually reclaimed the entire site. This place is a perfect example of a public swimming pool left to decay after decades of heavy use.
5. The Albigny Beach Swimming Pool (Annecy, Haute-Savoie)
Once a popular swimming pool for the residents of Annecy, the Albigny Beach Swimming Pool was abandoned in the 1980s. Located on the shores of Lake Annecy, it now lies in ruins. The pools have been overgrown with vegetation, and the view of the lake from this former recreational spot gives the site a unique charm.
6. The swimming pool at the Lycée Jean-Moulin (Le Blanc-Mesnil, Seine-Saint-Denis)
The Jean-Moulin High School swimming pool was abandoned after years of use by the students. Today, its empty pools and cracked tiles are covered in graffiti. This place symbolizes the gradual neglect of school infrastructure and has become a popular spot for urban explorers.
7. The Grands Moulins swimming pool in Pantin (Seine-Saint-Denis)
Built in the 1930s for the workers of the Grands Moulins de Pantin flour mill, this complex included a swimming pool. Now abandoned and in ruins, the pool's industrial architecture makes it unique. The pool and its surroundings bear witness to a past where industry and employee well-being were inextricably linked.
8. The Vittel train station swimming pool (Vosges)
Once part of a thermal spa complex, the Vittel train station swimming pool is now abandoned, its empty pools and dilapidated structures offering a striking contrast to the past elegance of the spa town. This place, once popular with spa-goers, is now overgrown with vegetation, creating a unique atmosphere where history and abandonment intertwine.
9. The Tournesol swimming pool in Romainville (Seine-Saint-Denis)
Like the Carcassonne swimming pool, the Tournesol swimming pool in Romainville was part of a vast program of swimming pool construction in the 1970s. Now in ruins, its distinctive features – a rounded dome and glass walls – are still visible, although the pools are empty and vegetation has taken over the site.
10. The Léo Lagrange Swimming Pool (Montpellier, Hérault)
Closed for years, the Léo Lagrange swimming pool in Montpellier was once a popular relaxation spot for the city's residents. Now abandoned, the pool and its changing rooms are in a state of advanced disrepair. Graffiti covers the walls and empty pools, creating an atmosphere that is both artistic and melancholic.
Conclusion
These ten abandoned swimming pools in France are all testaments to a bygone era, when sport and relaxation were integral parts of daily life. Now frozen in time, these pools offer a unique setting for urban exploration , blending history, architecture, and nostalgia. It is crucial to remember that visiting these places can be dangerous and that access is often prohibited or restricted. It is important to respect local laws and prioritize your safety during your explorations. By exploring these sites with caution and respect, you contribute to preserving this forgotten heritage for future generations.
