Piscine du Rhone (open-air heated pool)

Piscine du Rhone is a municipal heated open-air swimming pool at 8 Quai Claude Bernard on the Rhone's left bank in Lyon's 7th arrondissement, in France's Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region. It is not a natural beach but the main swimming option inside Lyon, a city where swimming in the Rhone and Saone rivers is prohibited because of currents and boat traffic. The pool is heated and open to the sky, so it can be used beyond the height of summer, with seasonal hours that should be checked on lyon.fr before a visit. Water is chlorinated pool water rather than natural water, and the setting is a concrete and tiled pool complex with a sun terrace overlooking the quay, rather than sand or pebbles. Amenities include changing rooms and showers, lockers and a sun terrace for resting between swims. Adult entry is about EUR 5, making it an affordable alternative for a city swim. The atmosphere is that of a typical French municipal pool: lap swimmers and local residents in the morning, families and groups in the afternoon and on warm weekends. The setting suits visitors who want reliable, supervised swimming without leaving the city. Access is straightforward. The Metro line B runs to Saxe-Gambetta or Jean Mace, followed by about 10 minutes on foot, and the Velo'v bike-share network has stations along the quay. The pool lies roughly 2 km from Place Bellecour, so it can also be reached on foot or by bicycle along the riverbank. Visitors should bring a swimsuit, towel and a coin or token for lockers where required, and follow French pool rules, which typically require tight-fitting swimwear rather than loose shorts. Check lyon.fr for current opening hours, prices and any maintenance closures before going.