Page 8 | To remind people of French swimming pool rule

Solmum1964 · 2026-06-27T22:01:20+00:00

Just a quick reminder for people holidaying in France this year. Many public swimming pools and campsites insist that boys and men wear proper (lycra) swimming trunks in their pools. These can be traditional brief style, swim shorts or jammers but must be tight around the leg for hygiene purposes. Looser swim shorts are not allowed. I'm currently on holiday in France and have seen a number of men asked to leave the pool because they were not wearing appropriate swimwear.

IGuessIllbetheFirst · 28/06/2026 06:27

I’ve heard that in other countries there are stricter rules on washing before getting into the pool (naked, without swiming costumes on) and then what can be worn in the pool to reduce the amount of chlorine/ chemicals they have to put in the pool for it to be safe.

GnomeDePlume · 28/06/2026 05:57

I'm just back from a French campsite. The impression I got was that the rule was to wear what was obviously swimwear in the pool. So there were a few people in rash vests in the pool. I dont think tshirts would have been allowed.

I dont think I saw many, if any, men in speedos. All were in lycra shorts when in the pool.

Something else to note was that there were no lifeguards on duty. This was clearly indicated and does seem to be fairly standard for campsite pools.

PlayingDevilsAdvocateisinteresting · 28/06/2026 05:42

Gettingbysomehow · 28/06/2026 05:14

Does anyone know if women can wear full coverage swimsuits with long arms and legs in France? I have to wear one because I cant have sun on my skin due to pre cancerous moles.
Ive heard they make muslim women uncover over there.
Im not muslim but they might think my suit is some kind of religious thing.

Take a doctor's note saying that you mustn't expose your skin to the sunlight, and explaining why. It might even be a good idea to have a proper French translation, on a seperate piece of paper, in case an official claims to not understand it?

TheVeryAngryBanana · 28/06/2026 05:38

Gettingbysomehow · 28/06/2026 05:14

Does anyone know if women can wear full coverage swimsuits with long arms and legs in France? I have to wear one because I cant have sun on my skin due to pre cancerous moles.
Ive heard they make muslim women uncover over there.
Im not muslim but they might think my suit is some kind of religious thing.

Not normally allowed at public pools. The only cover up allowed on the side is a towel. I used to train very early or very late so I didn't burn.

PlayingDevilsAdvocateisinteresting · 28/06/2026 05:36

NotAnotherScarf · 28/06/2026 00:00

So a woman wears a bikini all day is fine, a bloke with much loser shorts isn't?

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My husband always has 'skid' marks on his underpants at the end of the day 🤮 I don't thin̈k that my underwear has ever had any skidmarks on them...

MinnieMountain · 28/06/2026 05:25

Wreckinball · 28/06/2026 00:46

I got told off for not being naked in an Austrian sauna suite by a fully clothed male cleaner/attendant - it had just opened for the day so hardly anyone in there to complain- felt weird so I left

I've only been in saunas in Germany and Switzerland, but I thought being naked in saunas is standard in Germanic countries. I got told off once because my feet weren't on my towel in the sauna (the rest of me was).

Gettingbysomehow · 28/06/2026 05:14

Does anyone know if women can wear full coverage swimsuits with long arms and legs in France? I have to wear one because I cant have sun on my skin due to pre cancerous moles.
Ive heard they make muslim women uncover over there.
Im not muslim but they might think my suit is some kind of religious thing.

dizzydizzydizzy · 28/06/2026 05:04

I wore a swimming top (to keep the sun off) at an outdoor lido in France and they made me take it off. No idea why- it was skintight and made of the same fabric as a swimming costume.

mathanxiety · 28/06/2026 04:05

NotAnotherScarf · 28/06/2026 00:00

So a woman wears a bikini all day is fine, a bloke with much loser shorts isn't?

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A woman is less likely to have been sitting on a filthy seat on a bus or train in her bikini.

mathanxiety · 28/06/2026 04:03

Flamingojune · 27/06/2026 23:55

Why would that be a problem

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Because they could be covered in drips of ketchup, dog hair, grease from wiping hands on them, or dirt from sitting in the grass, etc.

Wreckinball · 28/06/2026 00:46

I got told off for not being naked in an Austrian sauna suite by a fully clothed male cleaner/attendant - it had just opened for the day so hardly anyone in there to complain- felt weird so I left

PeachMelbaYoghurt · 28/06/2026 00:43

TheyGrewUp · 28/06/2026 00:23

Or even a downside

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I think you meant "downslide" 😆

NotAnotherScarf · 28/06/2026 00:43

SweepSqueaks · 28/06/2026 00:06

But that’s not likely to happen. Most women wouldn’t pop to the supermarket in just their bikini in the morning, sit on a park bench and have a coffee in their bikini then get the bus to the pool in the afternoon in their bikini.

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No perhaps but how many women sit near the pool for hours on end in the hot sun...or have a swim, put on a sun dress or a wrap and do all those things.

Admittedly, they are far less likely to dripp piss into a bikini bottom but...

LilOleMe2 · 28/06/2026 00:42

TheyGrewUp · 28/06/2026 00:23

Or even a downside

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Speedos are not going to be holding pee in!!

LivelyGreyShark · 28/06/2026 00:38

tartyflette · 28/06/2026 00:35

I thought everyone absolutely had to be totally naked in saunas in Austria — but wearing shoes?

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I guess pool type shoes - but yes it was the shoes the elderly austrian lady had a problem with and not the swimming costume, this was a few years ago so maybe its changed.

tartyflette · 28/06/2026 00:35

LivelyGreyShark · 28/06/2026 00:31

I once got told off :-( for not wearing shoes inside a sauna in Austria - had no idea it was a rule there.

I thought everyone absolutely had to be totally naked in saunas in Austria — but wearing shoes?

LivelyGreyShark · 28/06/2026 00:31

I once got told off :-( for not wearing shoes inside a sauna in Austria - had no idea it was a rule there.

TheyGrewUp · 28/06/2026 00:23

Thunderdcc · 27/06/2026 23:04

Jammers make you go much faster on water slides so there is an upside 😊

Or even a downside

tartyflette · 28/06/2026 00:21

I was told that wearing swimming
trunks with loose legs was seen as unhygienic (in France) due to possible pubic hair (and pee?) escapes.

ColdAsAWitches · 28/06/2026 00:18

Flamingojune · 27/06/2026 23:55

Why would that be a problem

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That was a typo for shorts, but in either case it's the same principle - you don't add sweat, dirt or dust to the water.

Silverbirchleaf · 28/06/2026 00:12

We’ve got caught out in the past as well, and had to buy new trunks in France before.

hahabahbag · 28/06/2026 00:08

Indoor pools in Spain and some outdoor pools demand swimming hats and flip flops you must wear to the pool side, even bald people.

SweepSqueaks · 28/06/2026 00:06

NotAnotherScarf · 28/06/2026 00:00

So a woman wears a bikini all day is fine, a bloke with much loser shorts isn't?

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But that’s not likely to happen. Most women wouldn’t pop to the supermarket in just their bikini in the morning, sit on a park bench and have a coffee in their bikini then get the bus to the pool in the afternoon in their bikini.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 28/06/2026 00:04

Yes, dh once had to buy a pair of budgie smugglers at a French pool shop. Horrible things!

Pugdogmom · 28/06/2026 00:02

You need swimming caps in Italy too. Both men and women.