Like an old-ship, this old pre-ww2 pool is kept alive with some new paint every now and again,…read moremasking the fact that this little gem is overdue for a big overhaul and a Trip to the 21st century. The old industrial-hall-style Building undoubtedly has it´s Charme and they try their best to keep it clean (apart from the roof windows), but there is no hiding the fact that everything is just very old. I don´t see why this pool is more expensive than the others in Paris, as you are not exactly getting more for your money. What you get more of, is inconvenience (like waiting for the man to go around and open your dressing-booth, lots of stairs, blow-dryers not at the exit) and a public swimming-pool that is in no way Handicapped-accessible. Opening hours during school-weeks are also not very consumer-friendly. 1 hour 15 minutes they open some days around noon and still expect you to pay 4 Euro 80. And that´s just not worth it. But it´s different and if you want different, Pontoise is for you. The only authentical 1940ies bathing-experience that I know of ...

Delightful art deco 33m pool in Paris. Remember to take a bathing hat!…read moreSo pleased to have found this large, airy pool in Paris! 4.50 Euro per visit, with very complicated opening hours in between school use, so check times before going. After buying a ticket, you go upstairs and enter the 'no outdoor shoes area' where an unsmiling member of staff will snatch the ticket from your hand, and point you towards one of the individual cubicles which encircle the pool on two floors, in which to change. After changing you leave all your things locked in this personal cubicle, pulling the door shut behind you. Next - the 'obligatoire' (obligatory) shower (with your swimsuit on, even though it is a single sex shower) before entering the pool. Gentlemen please note bermudas are not allowed, and you too need to wear a bathing hat, even if you are bald. The water temperature is spot on, and the pool is not too crowded especially in the mornings. The lane discipline can be a bit lacking, with dawdlers kicking along with a float in the same lane as tanned speed kings churning past in a high velocity front crawl, nearly missing a plump granny doing slow but steady breast stroke, but amazingly it never seems to come to blows. Afterwards, return for another bizarre shower in your swimsuit, and then wait for the still-unsmiling attendant to come and open your cubicle to get dressed again. All in all, a wonderful pool, a delightful swim and I just wish they had something like this in London. Convenient Velib parking spot down the other end of the street. Perfect.

From the owner: Un parcours de santé dominical Deuxième forêt des Yvelines après celle de Rambouillet, et première…read moreancienne forêt royale, avec plus de 3500 ha, le domaine de Saint Germain dispose de deux parcours de randonnées à 5 minutes à peine de la gare RER. Le premier, le sentier des oratoires permet de tenir 5 à 6 heures au milieu des chênes, des hêtres ou des charmes, alors que le second, plus court propose une succession d'éléments sportifs sur quelques kms. Promeneurs du dimanche ou sportifs confirmés se croisent le long des sentiers qui mènent, pour les plus courageux, vers la forêt de Marly le Roi ou de Maisons Laffitte. Peuplée d'arbres centenaires, cette fôret est une invitation à la promenade à travers un réseau très fourni de laies, allées, routes, chemins et pistes cavalières... La répartition des essences est actuellement la suivante : 50 % de chênes, 10 % de hêtres, 15 % de charmes, 11 % de pins, 2 % de châtaigniers, 7 % de divers (frênes, érables, tilleuls, merisiers, sorbiers...

In Boulogne-Billancourt, only a short walk away from Metro Station Billancourt (Line 9), you will…read morefind Piscine Boulogne-Billancourt. It´s a big public swimming pool with one Basin for swimmers with no shallow end (25 Meters length), one shallow basin for learners (also 25 Meters) and a third pool with a connection to a small pool outside of the building. Inside this third pool has some water-jets for massage, outside there is a current you can swim against - that said this current is quite weak so you shouldn't come there expecting a great work-out. Outside there is also a grass-patch to lie down and soak in some sun (in summer). It´s generally set up to be a great pool for families with children who will love the small water-slide. Other practical information: Lockers need a 1€ piece, there are free shower-gel/soap dispensers in the showers which are separated for men and women. You´ll need a bathing-cap and men need tight fitting swim-gear (no surfer-shorts) - there are also vending machines for that. Piscine Boulogne-Billancourt was very clean when I was there and there was always someone going around with a mop in the dressing room & locker area. The Building is in good shape and functional. The Staff I encountered was very friendly. Problems? None. It is a good pool and there are no real reasons against Piscine Boulogne-Billancourt. The only slightly negative thing that I can say is that the pool lacks character or charisma. It´s functional, clean, well maintained - and boring.

The swimming pool of Saint Pierre les Nemours used to be only three classical outside swimming…read moreareas(one for really young kids, one for kids who does not know how to swing and a big pool for everyone)and a jumping area with the highiest jump at ten meters!! Now it still have all these cool stuff but it also have lots of new equipment like a sauna and hammam area, a gym center and also a swiming pool inside. The only downside is the prices are a bit higher than they used to be.Luckily they still do discount if you are from Saint Pierre les Nemours or from Nemours. There is also a little snack bar.

Almost 2 years after my first review and a couple of visits later, I am downgrading Piscine Butte…read moreaux Cailles to mediocre. Another Public swimming pool that is slipping because it does not get the TLC it needs and that the customers deserve. And it really is a shame because this pool is one of the better and more interesting ones the french Capitol has to offer. The cleanliness isn't as good as it was before. Grime and mold are taking over the showers which are in dire need of a deep clean. The changing cabins need their walls cleaned (tiles, you could just hose then down, but apparently that isn't done) and the "blind corners" behind the doors cleaned. Broken locks from the changing cabins don´t seem to get fixed so there seem to be fewer and fewer lockable changing cabins with each visit. Toilets were disgustingly dirty and smelly like they haven´t been cleaned in days. Many of the positive things I wrote about are still there and - but I am afraid that is being pushed more into the background when the showers are disgusting and you see that this place is being neglected this way.

From the owner: L'une des plus anciennes piscines de Paris Bassin intérieur de 33m X 12mDeux bassins extérieurs de…read more25m X 12,5 et 12m X 6mTerrasse, solarium, tables de ping-pongAquagymCours de plongée

The Centre Aquatique is a three (or 4 when you count the whirlpool or "spa" as they call it) basin…read moreswimming pool in Neuilly-sur-Seine. One basin of 25 Meters for swimmers with no shallow end, one learners basin and a big mixed pool that also extends to the outside of the pool. One of the really great bits about this public-pool is the patch of green outside to relax and soak in some sun. A real small park with palm-trees is what they have outside once you climb down the stairs. I loved that part of the pool. Practical Info: Lockers work with code, bathing cap is only mandatory in the pool for swimmers not in the rest of the pool and surfer-short type swimwear is forbidden. Showers are separated for men and women. Negatives? Pool, showers and lockers weren't really clean when I was there - not filthy either, but my standard of cleanliness wasn´t meet. It´s not a charming pool on the inside and (despite being there on a sunny day) I found the pool-hall lacked light in some areas. Some small maintenance issues here and there, nothing major though. The tunnel between the exterior basin and the interior was closed. Bottom Line: I prefer the Public Pool in Boulogne-Billancourt. It´s cleaner, friendlier and offers most of what the Centre Aquatique has to offer at a cheaper price.

Situated in an old industrial hall, this little public pool has some good points going for it and…read moresome bad ones too. But let me start with the positives: There is a lot of light in this pool and for me this a welcome change to all the basement-pools that I have visited in recent times. They can even open the roof on warm days and then it is a bit like like an outside pool. The 25 Meter Basin is only for Swimming with no shallow-end 1,80 Meter to 2,30 Meter deep). There is another smaller basin for children which is between 70cm and 1,20 Meter deep. The staff was numerous and very friendly, the changing-cabins are big enough and the locker-keys (bring 1€) have a proper wristband that you won´t lose in the water. Negative when I visited the pool was the cleanliness. The showers and some cabins were rather dirty. Also the building isn't really well maintained. There is rust showing everywhere and a lot of the ceiling tiles are moldy or show signs of having been moldy in the past. Also, in a pool where you can have this much sunshine and where they can open the roof, it would be great to have some sort of area where you can sit down and enjoy the sun a bit on some reclining chair or so. Sadly there is nothing like that at Piscine Hébert. It´s a bit of a shame, if this pool had been clean and better maintained it would have been my favorite parisian pool to date.