Saint-Denis' Olympic Aquatic Centre unveils its secrets for Heritage Days 2026.

This Saint-Denis site is known worldwide: it was built specifically to host the swimming events of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Athletes from every corner of the globe came to compete in the pools of this aquatic center. More recently, this summer of 2026, it is also here that Léon Marchand claimed new gold medals at the European Swimming Championships. As you’ve guessed, we’re talking about the Olympic Aquatic Center of Saint-Denis.

The famous pool opens its doors to sports enthusiasts and curious visitors on Saturday, September 19, 2026, for the new edition of the Heritage Days. And it isn’t the only highlight! A full tour is planned to give a better glimpse of Saint-Denis’ athletic facilities. Several sites are to be explored during this unusual stroll.

• To be read
• This week's top picks in Paris and Île-de-France, September 7–13, 2026

Every year, on the third weekend of September, Heritage Days invite us to rediscover and appreciate places that are central or quirky in French History. Castles, museums, ministries, theaters, or gardens—every corner of the Hexagon hides a small piece of history...

Let yourself be swept away by this ever-surprising event, and enjoy this athletic stroll in Saint-Denis! Here’s what awaits you.

The Heritage Days program at the Olympic Aquatic Center:

• From the 1998 World Cup to the 2024 Olympics: the architectural and urban legacy of sporting events

  Come discover more than thirty years of urban transformation that have reshaped the industrial landscape of the Plaine de France into livable neighborhoods, powered by the momentum of major sporting events hosted on the territory.

  Follow architect Hugo Trutt of CAUE 93 on a route from Saint-Denis to L'Île-Saint-Denis, tracing the Plaine’s transformation, the redevelopment of Hub Pleyel, the athletes' village, and the riverfront eco-district of L'Île-Saint-Denis. The tour will include visits to sports facilities notable for their architecture, including the Olympic Aquatic Centre (CAO) in Saint-Denis.

  Participation requirements: Up to 40 participants - Free | Booking required - https://www.pop-plainecommune.com/decouvrir/nos-visites-guidees/

  Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 - 10:30 ⤏ 12:45, 14:30 ⤏ 16:45

Did this tour make you want to cool off? Discover Paris’s swimming pools and other spots to swim year-round in Paris and Île-de-France.

Olympic Pools: The Best Venues for Competitive Swimming in Paris and the Île-de-France Region
Attention, swimmers eager to push their limits! We're taking you to explore the handful of Olympic-sized pools nestled within Paris and beyond in the region. Here are the top spots where you can dive into 50-meter pools. Perfect for racking up those laps! [Read more]