La Piscine is an art and industry museum in Roubaix, close to Lille, set inside a 1930s Art Deco swimming pool. The pool hall itself serves as the main exhibition space, with its galleries, tiled walls and stained glass. The collections include paintings, sculptures, decorative arts and textiles, and the displays trace Roubaix's textile past through an archive of thousands of fabric samples dating back to 1835. Allow time for the building as well as the art, and check the on-site restaurant and gift shop.
From pool to museum
The building opened as a swimming pool in 1932. The Lille architect Albert Baert designed it as a modern place for hygiene, built in response to the difficult living conditions of Roubaix's working class.
The Art Deco interior was meant to make it one of the finest pools in France. Later the pool was turned into a museum of art and industry, and its full name is La Piscine - Musée d'art et d'industrie André Diligent.
The brick facade and the pool hall
The entrance from Avenue Jean Lebas runs along a long brick wall. This is the facade of the old Hannart textile plant, and its sawtooth pattern points to Roubaix's industrial and textile roots.
Inside, the pool chamber, its galleries, the tiled walls and the stained glass form the main exhibition hall. A former textile factory next door adds more exhibition space, so the visit moves from the pool into a different industrial building.
What the collections cover
The museum holds paintings, sculptures, decorative arts and textiles. Some displays focus on works by local artists, and temporary exhibitions rotate alongside the permanent collections.
The textile displays explain the history of Roubaix's textile industry. The archive holds thousands of samples dating back to 1835, which gives a close look at the fabrics that shaped the city.
The pool setting shapes how the works are seen. Light falls across the tiles and glass, so the architecture and the art are experienced together.
Planning the visit
There is an admission fee. The museum recommends buying tickets in advance, and buying online before you arrive can speed up your entry.
The entrance and the restrooms are wheelchair accessible, and there is accessible parking. On-site parking, paid and free parking garages, and street parking are all available nearby. A changing table is available, and the museum has a gift shop and a restaurant on site.
The museum is closed on Mondays. Fridays are the day it stays open latest, and Sunday afternoons between 2 and 4 pm can help you avoid long entrance lines.
Perguntas frequentes
Is there an entry fee?
Yes, the museum charges an admission fee. Check the official website for current prices before you go.
Do I need to book tickets in advance?
Advance tickets are recommended. Buying online before your visit can save time at the entrance.
Is the museum wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The entrance and the restrooms are wheelchair accessible, and there is accessible parking.
Is La Piscine open on Mondays?
No, the museum is closed on Mondays.
Where is La Piscine?
It is at 23 Rue de l'Espérance in Roubaix, close to Lille.
