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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Butte-aux-Cailles swimming pool is one of the oldest in Paris, located in 5 Place Paul-Verlaine, in the eponymous district. Its history began in 1866 with the discovery of a deep hot water table at 28°C, exploitable thanks to an artesian well drilled in 1893 under the impulse of François Arago. This well allowed the creation of bath-douchs in 1908, precursors of the current swimming pool, reflecting the hygienist concerns of the time, such as the obligation of showers and pediluvs for bathers.

The current swimming pool was designed by architect Louis Bonnier between 1922 and 1924, integrating the old dowel baths. Its architecture is distinguished by a red brick facade, rare in Paris for this type of equipment, and an inner concrete vault supported by seven arches. The water, still drawn from the artesian well, feeds three basins (one inside 33 m and two exteriors 25 m and 12 m), as well as a solarium. Ranked a historic monument in 1990, it was rehabilitated in 1991 by Johanna Fourquier.

Innovative in terms of energy, the pool has been using the residual heat of computer servers installed in its basements since 2016, through a partnership with Stimergy, reducing its carbon footprint. This system has eliminated 250 MWh of annual consumption and 45 tonnes of CO2. The swimming pool also marked the culture, serving as a decor for the film How I competed... (my sex life) by Arnaud Desplechin and welcoming monumental works during Nuit Blanche 2006.

Its record influx was recorded during the heat wave of 2003, with 1,600 to 2,400 daily entries. An extension project announced in 2025 includes a new solarium on Rue du Moulinet, a fitness room, and a terrace accessible to people with reduced mobility. The swimming pool remains an emblematic place, served by lines 5, 6 and 7 of the metro (station Place d'Italie).

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