The opportunity to visit an Art Deco gem listed as a Historic Monument and enjoy a wellness break at the same time is what the piscine Pontoise offers you. This vintage swimming pool has just reopened its doors after major renovation work. Treat yourself to a relaxing swim in an exceptional setting just a ten-minute walk from the Hotel Albe Saint-Michel.
A movie location
Designed in the 1930s by Lucien Pollet, the same architect who gave us the Molitor swimming pool, the Pontoise is an Art Deco marvel but also a place steeped in history. During its 90 years of existence, it has seen, among many other famous names, the Olympic swimmer and Tarzan actor Johnny Weissmüller swim there. It was also the pool where the oceanographer Jacques Cousteau tried out his prototype diving suit. Its large glass roof and changing cabins in the gallery above the pool have also inspired filmmakers such as Claude Sautet (Nelly et Monsieur Arnaud) and Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amélie.)
Experience the Pontoise swimming pool
Much of the charm of the Pontoise swimming pool is due to its large glass roof, which bathes the pool in natural light. Throughout the day, there’s no need for artificial lighting. In the evening, the atmosphere becomes more intimate, with spotlights providing illumination from beneath the water and the soothing sounds of classical music filling the air. A new fitness area has been built with four squash courts, a weight room, a fitness room and a cardio area welcoming you throughout the day and into the evening.
Completely renovated to meet the latest energy efficiency standards, the Pontoise swimming pool is both a Monument Historique to be admired and a place to relax. Its mosaics, its warm yellow hues, its gallery cabins and its evocation of 30s style and elegance all add to the Pontoise’s considerable charm.
*****
Photo: Andrei Armiagov
Hotel Albe Saint Michel, a 3-star hotel in the heart of Saint-Michel district