Ageing facilities offering daily refuge face a funding threat as record temperatures parch the French countryside. In the village of Châteauneuf-sur-Sarthe, in western France, 75-year-old former healthcare assistant Suzy Bernard recently learned to swim and now enjoys the water with her family. She is a member of the village collective, Touche Pas à Ma Piscine (Hands Off My Pool), which is campaigning to defend the facility and calling for government support. “We’ll fight to make sure this pool survives and stays open,” she said, noting the wonderful feeling of wellbeing the water provides.
As record temperatures have parched the countryside, these municipal pools have become the only shelter for low-income families who cannot afford holidays or live in heat-trap homes. They are also vital for safety; 274 people died from drowning in France between 1 May and 15 July this year, with many deaths occurring in rivers and waterways. Many of these rural pools, built in the 1970s, are now in crisis as mayors struggle with high running costs. In Châteauneuf-sur-Sarthe, a village of 3,200 in the Pays de la Loire, Mayor Véronique Langlais is determined to keep the 1973 pool open despite an annual cost of at least €100,000 (£85,000). With three other pools closed nearby, it is the only one within a 20-mile radius. “This pool is a treasure that we have to protect,” Langlais said, though she warned that a major repair could force closure, describing a “sword of Damocles” hanging over the facility.
The government under Georges Pompidou originally launched a plan in 1969 to build 1,000 pools following poor Olympic performance and tragic drownings. While over 600 were built, they now require urgent renovation. François Gernigon, a centre-right lawmaker for Maine-et-Loire, has petitioned for a funding plan after surveying mayors and finding over 75% fear short-term closure. He argues that closures make residents feel abandoned, as pools are the only place of leisure in rural areas. Local printmaker Emma-Özlem Kaya, whose family moved to the village in 1972, recalls spending every summer afternoon at the pool. Teacher Nadine Lemonnier, also part of the collective, emphasizes that swimming lessons are crucial, noting that her own three-year-old cousin drowned in a private pool.
Across France, collectives are volunteering for maintenance to keep pools open. In Rochefort-sur-Loire, a village of 2,400, residents have decorated the area with flippers and rubber rings to lobby for funds, even hosting a poet in residence and theatre performances. Sociologist Nicolas Robin noted, “It’s about making our village pool the focus of life in the community.” The need for these facilities is underscored by the 18 July 1969 tragedy at nearby Juigné-sur-Loire, where 19 children drowned in the River Loire. Lifeguard and swim coach Guillaume Lusteau explains that swimming skills are essential for safety, especially during the winter flooding season. With the nearby River Louet currently too low for swimming due to heatwaves, the pool has seen increased attendance. Mayor Didier Le Gall emphasizes that the pool is essential for the health of his community, particularly for low-income families. “The pool is part of our village’s identity, and in the heatwaves it has become a crucial place to cool down,” he said, adding that they need long-term help to cover the €100,000 running costs. Volunteers like 73-year-old former competitive swimmer Bruno Cheminat assist with painting and maintenance, while staff member Estelle, a former flight attendant, describes the experience of working there as “swimming in a picture postcard.”
