Where to swim in the Marais?

Instagram photo swimming pool at Les Halles / Suzanne Berlioux

It's undeniable that the new year with its good resolutions, just like the approach of summer, makes you want a few swimming sessions to keep in shape or shape your summer body.

So which swimming pool to dive into knowing that the Marais only has one swimming pool on its territory, that of Saint-Merri, facing Beaubourg (4th)?

Fortunately, two pools are not far away: that of the Cours des Lions (11th), which measures 25 meters and that of Les Halles, in the Forum, twice as long.

So swimming should be a relatively easy activity to do in our neighborhood, but it's not that simple.

We tested the morning times, just before the swimming pools opened to school students.

The ideal time to take care of your shape with an alarm clock in “early morning” mode – the famous method which consists of waking up one to two hours before your usual time to achieve your goals.

SAINT-MERRI / MARIE MARVINGT
The most modern

Saint Merri swimming pool, ©Gérard Sanz/Mairie de Paris

• What is this swimming pool?
It reopened after a complete renovation in September 2019 of its gymnasium and pool. Thanks to an online vote by Parisians, she is now named Marie Marvingt, in homage to this resistance fighter, aviation pioneer who was one of the first French women to swim the 12 kilometers across Paris.

• Why is it good?
The rehabilitation of the 25-meter pool is a success and gives us the impression of swimming in Jules Verne's Nautilius. The tiling was replaced by a stainless steel background like at Emile-Anthoine in the 15th or at Alfred Nakache in the 20th.

• With whom ?
With a friend who is an early riser and ready to go because the swimming pools only remain open from 7 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.

• What does this swimming pool look like?
Bright, clean, impeccable locker room, the stainless steel pool has it all, innovative and with significant environmental qualities: exceptional longevity (30 years), 100% recyclable, it is, it seems, ultra simple to maintain.
This material is praised for its “elasticity” which allows it to withstand ground movements and strong temperature variations without cracking.

• What activities are offered?
Apart from swimming in your line, swimming lessons are possible. This allows you to have your own swimming lane for 30 minutes.

• What is the spirit of the place?
We like the calm, the way the lifeguards clap their hands to signal the end of the swim.

• Most ?
Efficient and smiling cashiers, lifeguards asking “how are you?” ", if we didn't get hurt. Restore order to the swimming lines if necessary.

• The least?
the basin is shallow. Finally, the swimming pool team has nothing to do with it but the access, under the arcades of the swimming pool, is not glamorous: it is the time when the homeless people who live there wake up.

▼ Saint-Merri swimming pool / Marie Marving
16, rue du Renard, 75004 Paris
Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Wednesday from 13:30 p.m. to 18 p.m.
Thursday from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. – from 12 p.m. to 13:30 p.m. – from 16:30 p.m. to 22:30 p.m.
Saturday from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – from 13:30 p.m. to 18 p.m.
Sunday from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – from 13:30 p.m. to 18 p.m.
Tel: +01 42 72 29 45 XNUMX

COURT OF LIONS POOL
The most capricious

Saint Merri swimming pool, ©Gérard Sanz/Mairie de Paris

• What is this swimming pool?
It too has benefited from renovation work but the new look is not as obvious as in Saint-Merri.

• With whom ?
With a friend who is not afraid to get up early in vain because we sometimes come up against the closed doors of the swimming pool at 7 a.m.

• What does this swimming pool look like?
The light here is quite beautiful with this place's 1960s architecture with its large bay windows which let the mood outside filter through.

The stylist Simon Porte Jacquemus showed his models there in his early days.

• What activities are offered?
In the morning, the lines are intended for experienced swimmers or those who practice aquagym on their own.

• What is the spirit of the place?
It's a swimming pool that we love to hate because this place has everything to please and yet, the recurring absence of lifeguards during the first hours and last hours of practice (at 7 a.m. and late evening on Tuesdays and Wednesday) prevents the opening of the basin.

• Most ?
Friendly cashiers. A community of swimmers obliged to exchange information on openings.

• The least?
We have already said it: the sometimes fanciful schedules, due to unexpected strikes.

▼ Lions Court Pool
9, rue du Alphonse, 75011 Paris
Monday from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. to 13:30 p.m.
Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. – from 12 p.m. to 13:30 p.m. – from 17 p.m. to 21 p.m.
Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. – from 12 p.m. to 18 p.m.
Thursday from 12 p.m. to 13:30 p.m.
Friday from 07 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. – from 12 p.m. to 13:30 p.m.
Saturday from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. – from 13 p.m. to 18 p.m.
Sunday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. – from 13 p.m. to 18 p.m.
Tel: +01 43 55 09 23

HALLES SWIMMING POOL / SUZANNE BERLIOUX
The most central

• What is this swimming pool?
Municipal but managed by a private group, this swimming pool located at the Forum des Halles and in the busiest train station in France is very well served by public transport.

Open since 1986, this 50 meter pool for 8 lines is very popular.

• Why is it good?
The swimmer has many time slots to have fun. Plus opportunities to swim until late in the evening.

• With whom ?
Alone or with friends after a shopping session

• What does this swimming pool look like?
Although a little dark since it is underground and equipped with somewhat “dull” lighting, it is a practical swimming pool in which you slip into a sort of welcome anonymity.

• What activities are offered?
The place is capable of hosting numerous activities for children and adults: aquagym, dynamik fins, aquabiking, swimming school, etc.

• What is the spirit of the place?
Rather calm, large enough to feel calm in its line.

• Most ?
Efficient and smiling cashiers.

• The least?
The location in the basement.

▼ Les Halles swimming pool / Suzanne Berlioux
10, Place de la Rotonde, 75001 Paris
Monday from 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. – from 10:30 a.m. to 23:30 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday from 12 p.m. to 22:30 p.m.
Wednesday from 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. to 23:30 p.m.
Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. to 23:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday from 9 p.m. to 19 a.m.
Tel: +01 42 36 98 44

Text: Katia Barillot

14.01.22
Update: 10.07.23