La Piscine 🇫🇷

Located in the city of Roubaix in northern France, La Piscine—formally known as La Piscine-Musée d'Art et d'Industrie André Diligent—offers you a uniquely striking cultural experience. Your visit brings you inside a former indoor swimming pool built between 1927 and 1932 by Lille architect Albert Baert, renowned for its notable art deco interior. After closing as a pool in 1985, the site was expertly remodelled into a museum by architect Jean-Paul Philippon, opening in 2000 and reopening in 2018 following a nine-million-euro restoration.

Inside, you will see a fascinating permanent collection with origins dating back to 1835, which began as a fabric sample gathering from local textile factories to cultivate artistic taste. The museum thoughtfully combines elements of fine arts, industrial products, literature, and science. As you explore, you will also encounter a modern entrance building, dedicated special exhibition spaces, and a peaceful garden cleverly constructed within the roof-less shell of an adjoining textile factory.

It is an ideal destination for travelers seeking a rich blend of history, industrial heritage, and art deco design.

What to see at La Piscine

• Stunning art deco interior set within a historic 1920s indoor swimming pool
• Permanent collection featuring textile factory samples originating from 1835
• Exhibits combining fine arts, literature, science, and industrial products
• Garden and exhibition spaces built inside the shell of a former textile factory

Visiting tips

Be sure to take in the unique blend of fine arts and industrial history while exploring the museum's modern additions built inside the adjoining textile factory shell.

How long: 2-3 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

La Piscine is easy to reach on Roubaix’s public transport, and pairs naturally with LaM (Lille Métropole musée d'art moderne, d'art contemporain et d'art brut) and Château de Flers. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Roubaix travel guide.