Abandoned swimming pools, once lively places of leisure, are now frozen in a heavy silence, often overgrown with vegetation and marked by the wear and tear of time. These empty pools, vestiges of a time when families came to spend their summer days there, have become popular destinations for urban exploration enthusiasts ( 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. Warning: access to some of these sites can be dangerous and often prohibited. It is essential to respect local laws and ensure your safety.
1. The Molitor Swimming Pool (Paris)
Before its renovation in 2014, Piscine Molitor was one of the most iconic swimming pools in Paris. Closed in 1989, it lay abandoned for over two decades, attracting street artists who covered its walls in graffiti. Its empty pools and crumbling art deco facades provided an incredible setting for urban exploration. Although it has been restored, 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 domed structures with glass walls. The now-abandoned Tournesol Swimming Pool in Carcassonne is one of these facilities. These places, once popular with families, are now ruined buildings, where vegetation has invaded the pools and relaxation areas.
3. The Goussainville Swimming Pool (Val-d'Oise)
The Goussainville Swimming Pool , located in the ghost town of Goussainville-Vieux Pays, has been abandoned since the 1970s, after the construction of Roissy airport. The water has given way to wild grass, and the structure of the establishment shows signs of advanced abandonment. This place offers a unique atmosphere, between desolation and calm.
4. The Vaires Island Swimming Pool (Seine-et-Marne)
Located on the banks of the Marne, the Piscine de l'Île de Vaires was a large outdoor swimming pool that was abandoned in the 1990s. The pools are now empty, the changing rooms are in ruins, and nature has gradually covered the entire site. This place is a perfect example of a public swimming pool left abandoned after decades of heavy use.
5. The Albigny Beach Swimming Pool (Annecy, Haute-Savoie)
Once a popular swimming pool for Annecy residents, the Piscine de la Plage d'Albigny was abandoned in the 1980s. Located on the shores of Lake Annecy, it is now in ruins. The pools have been overgrown, and the view of the lake from this former relaxation area gives this site a unique charm.
6. The swimming pool at Jean-Moulin High School (Le Blanc-Mesnil, Seine-Saint-Denis)
The Lycée Jean-Moulin swimming pool was abandoned after years of use by the school's students. Today, its empty pools and cracked tiles are covered in graffiti. This place symbolizes the gradual abandonment of school infrastructure and has become a popular site for urbex enthusiasts.
7. The swimming pool of the Grands Moulins de 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, the pool is in ruins, but its industrial architecture makes it unique. The pool and its surroundings show traces of a past where industry and the well-being of employees were closely linked.
8. The Swimming Pool at Vittel Station (Vosges)
Once part of a thermal spa complex, the Piscine de la Gare de Vittel 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 visitors, is now overgrown with vegetation, creating a special atmosphere where history and abandonment mingle.
9. The Tournesol Swimming Pool in Romainville (Seine-Saint-Denis)
Like the Carcassonne swimming pool, the Piscine Tournesol in Romainville was part of a larger swimming pool construction programme 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 Piscine de Léo Lagrange in Montpellier was once a popular place for relaxation for the city's residents. Now abandoned, the pool and its changing rooms are in an advanced state of 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 testimonies of a bygone era, when sport and relaxation were an integral part of daily life. Now frozen in time, these pools offer a unique setting for urban exploration , combining 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 when exploring. By exploring these places with caution and respect, you are helping to preserve this forgotten heritage for future generations.
