When Paris's legendary Piscine Molitor – Art Deco showpiece, birthplace of the bikini (and, er, the 'monokini'), star of 'Life of Pi', playground for graffiti artists and ravers – reopened in May 2014, it wasn't in order to welcome back its old public. After languishing in redevelopment limbo for two decades, the pool was eventually snapped up by hotel group Accor, who resolved to convert the site's historic appeal into a luxury brand. The result: a high-end hotel-pool resort that looks good, but costs €180 for a day pass. Parisians are up in arms.
Luckily for them, their city abounds in attractive pools that don't cost half a week's wages to access. From the exotic facilities of the Centre Aquatique de Neuilly-sur-Seine (fake beaches, anyone?) to the naturist evenings at the Roger Le Gall, the Olympic dimensions of the Georges-Vallerey to the dramatic steel structure of the Josephine Baker, these venues offer everything that an overheated Parisian could want. So don your gaudiest swimsuit, grab your coppers for the lockers, and head over for a dip.
