Piscine Molitor, Art Deco swimming pool in 16th arrondissement, France
Piscine Molitor is a swimming complex in the 16th arrondissement featuring Art Deco design with an indoor pool beneath a glass roof and an outdoor Olympic basin flanked by sandy areas. The renovated site now houses a hotel with 124 rooms and a spa facility spanning 1700 square meters with treatment areas, steam room, sauna, and relaxation zones.
The venue opened as a public pool in 1929 and became a popular gathering place for Parisians throughout its decades of operation. After closing in 1989, the site sat vacant for more than two decades before undergoing major renovation starting in 2012.
The pool hosted a pivotal fashion moment when a revolutionary swimwear design debuted here in 1946, introducing a new silhouette to the world. This event links the venue to mid-century style and leisure culture.
The complex is easily accessible and offers a wide range of facilities in one location, from swimming to spa services. Visitors should allow plenty of time to explore the different areas, as the venue combines multiple amenities in a single setting.
During its two decades of abandonment from 1989 to 2012, street artists used the empty pools and walls as canvases for their work. Elements of this urban art legacy shaped the design approach of the current renovated complex.
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