Espace Sportif Pontoise

The pool was very crowded – there were nine swimmers per lane, but it didn’t matter due to it being 33⅓m long. The staff was very friendly, and they were cleaning constantly. It’s a great place to swim for anybody visiting Paris. (Note: Photographs are not permitted.)

I found that the 4:30 PM time was very busy - sometimes 13 people in a lane.

The fastest lane may be the "no breaststroke lane" if there is a sign to that effect at the shallow end of one of the lanes when you're there. It doesn't matter if you swim breaststroke faster than others kicking, swimming backstroke, or even swimming freestyle in the lane. It doesn't matter if you've had to switch to breaststroke because the person in front of you is slow and the traffic wouldn't allow passing. Breaststroke is simply not allowed in that lane!

Still, the opportunity to swim in a 30's style, classic pool was worth the sacrifice of real lap swimming for one day.

I find the first review to be a bit harsh. This pool serves a lot of constituencies. It’s often crowded, and the three lanes (they have capacity for six lanes) are not speed segregated; but, for the most part, swimmers are polite and behave. Sometimes, they take one lane for swim lessons. I don’t think you have to be there at 7 AM, however, to get in a workout. Also the water is somewhat warmer than I would prefer, but I’ve never been hot after swimming in it… and, again, they have to please a lot of people (elderly) who are in the non-lane parts of the pool just doing movement exercises and not even swimming.

Although the lanes are busy, they are quite wide and faster swimmers can easily pass mid-lane (which is common in European public pools). I agree that this is one of the best pools in Paris and it's certainly atmospheric!

It's a great pool, if crowded. A fun place to mingle with the locals. Swim caps required and available for sale.

One of the most reviewed listings in the database, we summarize the general consensus: It is almost always crowded (be there at 7AM or don't plan on getting much of a swim in), lane space is limited, the water is often too warm for a workout, and lanes are not speed designated. Still, one of the best pools in Paris.