Bains Lillois, Public bath in Lille, France.
The Bains Lillois is a bath house in Lille featuring a neoclassical facade supported by four columns of pink marble and topped with a frieze crowned by a balustrade balcony. The original building contained 270 cabins and three separate swimming pools designed for different skill levels.
The bath house was built between 1890 and 1892 by architect Albert Baert as a modern leisure facility for the city. The building remained in operation until 1981 when it closed due to safety concerns.
This bath house played a key role in introducing water polo to France and hosted two swimming clubs, including the Pupilles de Neptune de Lille, the country's first water polo club. The facility shaped local sports culture and drew people eager to try new water sports.
Visitors should know that this building is no longer open as a bath house since it closed in 1981. The exterior facade can be viewed from the street and shows the preserved architectural quality of this historic structure.
In 1924, artist Alfred Labille created specialized stained glass windows for the bath house, bringing artistic elements into this public facility. These artistic details show how beauty and design were valued even in everyday functional spaces.
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