Beat the heat … cool off in Germany’s outdoor pools

Published July 2, 2010
By Iris Reiff
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- The following public pools can be found in the immediate neighborhood of Spangdahlem Air Base as well as in the Kaiserslautern and Saarbruecken areas. The pools are open now until the end of summer for the 2010 season. Opening times and entry prices vary.

Wittlich
Wittlich has a nice medium-size outdoor pool complex called the Vitellius pool. It's open through mid-September and offers everything the heart desires - a swimmer's pool with eight 50-meter lanes for laps, two one-meter diving boards, one three-meter diving board, one three-meter diving platform and one five-meter diving board.

The non-swimmers' pool has a 64-meter water slide, a waterfall and other water activities. The toddlers' pool has its own waterfall with a cave and more.

Opening times are 10 a.m-8 p.m. Mondays, 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays and 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Entry is 3 euros for adults and 1.80 euros for children. Children younger than age 3 enter for free. Discount books with 10 and 50 tickets are available. Entry is 1 euro during "Happy Hour," which is 6:30 p.m. daily. The pool chief, Thomas Berens, would love to welcome more U.S. guests at the Wittlich pool, he said. Tennis tables, an Imbiss stand and other amusement are also available. Information is available via the www.wittlich.de website by clicking Vitelliusbad. The address is Himmeroderstrasse (Im Sportzentrum), 54516 Wittlich and the telephone number is 06571-6088.

Bitburg
The Bitburg CASCADE indoor and outdoor swimming and entertainment pool complex consists of a 50-meter long and 25-meter wide swimmers' pool with a 1.3 and a 5-meter high diving board, a 25-meter long and 18-meter wide non-swimmers' pool and a 6-7 meter children's pool that is an extension of the indoor children's entertainment pool. During summer the indoor and outdoor pools are open simultaneously. Opening times for the indoor pool are 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The pool is open for early morning swimming 7 a.m.-8:45 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Entry is 2.90 euros per hour, 5.60 euros for two hours, 6.50 euros for four hours and 7.50 euros for all day. Students pay 1.90 euros per hour, 3.30 euros for three hours, 3.50 euros for four hours and 4.80 euros for a day. Hourly usage of the pool is relatively expensive comparing to the all-day price. For more information, visit their website at www.cascade-bitburg.de or call 06561-96561-9683-0.

Manderscheid Freibad
Those who'd like to combine swimming with a visit to a local castle should opt for the Manderscheid pool. It opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. daily.

Adults pay 3 euros and children ages 4-16 pay 2 euros. Ticket books are also available. Families with children up to age 17 pay 9 euros for the entire family. To get to the Manderscheid pool, exit the main gate, turn right and follow the signs to Manderscheid. Coming from Grosslittgen, take the first right onto Cusanus Strasse as you get into town. From there, follow the signs Hauptschule and Freibad. More information can be obtained from the Manderscheid tourist information office at 06572-932665 or the area administration at 06572-921540.

Kyllburg Freibad
The Kyllburg pool has a 57-meter long slide and three different pools, as well as a baby's pool. A terrace, sports fields and a ping-pong table are also available for pool visitors.

The Kyllburg pool is open daily 10 a.m.-7 p.m. It is located outside the town and in the forest.

Entry fee is 3.50 euros for adults and 1.80 euros for children up to age 18. Ticket books and family and season cards are available at the pool. The swim complex holds about 3,000 people.

To get to the pool, turn right at the main gate when leaving the base and follow the signs to Oberkail. From Oberkail, follow the signs to Kyllburg. Coming from Oberkail the road turns down a hill and over a bridge. Stay on this road and continue up a hill to the intersection. There will be a Kreissparkasse bank on the right. Turn left at the bank and follow the Freibad sign. Information can be obtained at 06563-931179.

Trier-North and Trier-South baths
Trier has two pools, the Nord and Sued pools.

Freibad Nord, located on the right-hand side on Zurmaiener Strasse leading into Trier coming from the Autobahn, is open seven days a week, 6 a.m.-7:30 p.m., depending on weather conditions. The pool is open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Adults pay 2.80 euros while children and military members pay 1.50 euros. Children up to age 6 get in free. Ticket books and family cards are available. Freibad Nord holds 2,000 to 3,000 people. The address is Zurmaiener Strasse 122, 54292 Trier and the telephone number is 0651-25145.

Freibad Sued is the biggest pool in the region, holding up to 10,000 visitors and featuring a 10-meter diving board.

It's open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday noon-8 p.m., and weekends 10 a.m.- 6 p.m., depending on the weather.

Entry fees are 2.60 euros for adults and 1.50 euros for students, youngsters and military members with a valid identification card. The pool is located in Trier-South, Feyen, which is a suburb of Trier. The address is An der Härenwies, 54294 Trier.

Schweich Erlebnisbad
Schweich has a fairly new and modern swimming and entertainment pool. This complex has a water surface of 1,375 meters and includes swimmer and non-swimmer sections, a separate diving pool with one-and three-meter diving boards and three different water slides up to six meters long. One is a surface slide where up to five people can slide at the same time alongside each other. The Schweich pool has an integrated whirlpool and massage nozzles, waterfalls, plus a toddlers' pool.

The pool is open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday and 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday-Sunday and holidays. Entry is 3 euros for adults and 1.70 euros for children. Ticket books and season cards are also available at the Schweich pool.

Erlebnisbad Zeller Land
This fun pool is one of the biggest attractions in the area around Zell. It's a bathing paradise for the whole family with a 60 meter giant slide, Jacuzzi, waterfall showers and water fountains. Relax in the steam room or sauna. Admission is 5.10 euros for one day at the pool.Opening times are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. weekdays and from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. weekends, until autumn. Information can be obtained from info@erlebnisbad-zell.de or at www.erlebnisbad-zell.de. The address is Am Sportzentrum, 56856 Zell/Mosel and the telephone number is 06542-4830.

Moseltherme
Moseltherme features thermal baths with remarkable architecture and fascinating colors, one of the most beautiful pool complexes along the Moselle, a spacious sauna area and an in-house therapy center. Say goodbye to stress, immerse yourself in the wonderfully warm water and give your energy levels a boost in the pool and sauna. Let your mind, body and soul relax. Admission is 5 euros for two hours. Information can be obtained from rathaus@vgtt.de or at www.moseltherme.de. The address is Wildsteiner Weg, 56841 Traben-Trarbach and the telephone number is 06541-83030

monte mare Kaiserslautern
monte mare is a holiday resort with tropical temperatures, warm water and lapping waves. The monte mare sports and leisure pool complex is a water oasis with a children`s adventure area, sauna and spa facilities, and Tuscan atmosphere of the fantastic world of monte mare. Admission is 7.50 euros for three hours pool time open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Information can be obtained from kaiserslautern@monte-mare.de or at www.monte-mare.de. The address is Mailaender Straße 6, 67657 Kaiserslautern and the telephone number is 0631-30380.

Laola - Das Freizeitbad
Laola is one of the largest fun pools in Rheinland-Pfalz. It has a wave pool and people can enjoy an exhilarating ride down the Black Hole giant slide, as well as pure relaxation in the Jacuzzis, outdoor thermal pool and vitality garden, designed according to the principles of feng shui. Admission is 7.60 euros. The pool is open Mondays 2-10 p.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Thursdays 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Fridays 10 a.m.- midnight and Sundays 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Day tickets are available and information can be obtained from info@la-ola.de or at www.la-ola.de. The address is Horstring 2, 76829 Landau and the telephone number is 06341-55115.

Sport - & Freizeitbad Moby Dick
This attraction offers a family pool, naturally lit swimming hall heated to a pleasant 32ºC, 50-meter sports pool, sauna, steam room and lap pool with massage jets. For thrills and spills, there's a 60-meter giant tube slide and a children's play area with waterfall, bubble jets and other fun attractions. An extensive range of swimming and fitness classes provide the ideal motivation to get fit and active. The complex is open Monday 1:30- 9:30 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. and holidays 9:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Admission is 7 euros and the address is Am See 2, 76761 Rülzheim. Information can be obtained from info@mobydick.de or at www.mobydick.de. The telephone number is 07272-92840.

Erlebnisbad Köllerbachtal
The Köllerbachtal pool complex combines lots of fun attractions with the opportunity to sit back and relax. It has a giant 96-meter slide, a counter-current section, a zone with massaging water jets, whirlpool areas and a bubble pool as well as quiet areas. Children can enjoy the splash pool with its water mushroom, elephant slide and spurting rhino. The complex is open through the beginning of September 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Admission is possible until one hour prior to closing. The address is Stadionstraße, 66333 Voelklingen, and information is available at www.voelklingen.de. The telephone number is 06898-280670.

Erlebnisbad Schaumberg
The Schaumberg pool not only has a wide range of pool and sauna facilities, but also the longest water slide in the Saarland. There's a swimming pool, a counter-current section, a parent and child area, a lagoon pool and a spacious lawn with miniature golf. Visitors can also use the new adventure park including barefoot trail and adventure playground free of charge. The complex is open 9:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday from and 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and holidays. Admission is 5 euros for two hours of pool time. The address is Schwimmhalle 1, 66636 Tholey and information can be obtained from info@das-erlebnisbad.de or www.das-erlebnisbad.de. The telephone number is 06853-91110

Ahr-Thermen
Relax at one of Europe's most beautiful thermal baths and bathe in the famous mineral water that wells up from a depth of 359 meters in the volcanic ground at a temperature of 36°C. Enjoy the warmth of summer whatever the weather may be and experience your very own Midsummer Night's Dream bathing under the stars at night. Opening times are 9 a.m.-11 p.m., daily. Admission is 14.90 euros for a full day of fun at the complex. Obtain information from info@ahrthermen.de or at www.ahrthermen.de. The telephone number is 02641-801200.

Vitalis
Vitalis in Weiskirchen is a state-of-the-art, multifunctional pool centre. It has a fitness pool, a parent and child area, and a relaxing massage pool with various whirlpool features. The 1,200-square-meter sauna suite is well worth a visit with its five different rooms and superb Finnish soapstone sauna. It's open 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday and 7 a.m.-8 p.m Saturday, Sunday and holidays. Admission is 6.30 euros for two hours of pool and treatment area time. Information can be obtained from info@vitalis-weiskirchen.de or at www.vitalis-weiskirchen.de. The address is Kurparkstraße 2, 66709 Weiskirchen and the telephone number is 06876-919561.

das blau
Das blau - the water world at St. Ingbert - is one of the most popular pools in the Saarland. The outdoor pool has lots of attractions: the longest tyre slide in the region, fitness and family pool, children's area, paddling pool, wave pool and rapids. The pool also has a spacious spa area. Admission is 2.90 euros for two hours. Opening hours are 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday. Obtain more information from info@dasblau.de or at www.dasblau.de. The telephone number is 06894-9552500.

Local pools