Get fit at local indoor pools

  • Published
  • By Iris Reiff
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany --  For those looking for winter exercise, a day of fun or simply time to relax with friends or family, there are several indoor pools in the local area for people to enjoy. Entry prices range from 2 to 5 Euro.

Most indoor pools offer multiple ticket books at a reduced cost. Some indoor swimming pools are open year-round while others close for the summer season when outdoor pools are open. All indoor pools are open at this time of the year for people to enjoy.

The closest pools to the base can be found in Speicher, Gondorf, Bitburg and Wittlich.

Three other pools are located further in Cochem, Bad-Bertrich and Traben-Trarbach. These pools are thermal baths that offer recreational facilities and spa programs.

Larger complexes have several pools while smaller complexes are usually divided into swimmer and non-swimmer sections. Admission fees vary from pool to pool, however, special discount packages are available for groups, students, families and active-duty military members.

The following includes the names and locations of the pools, opening times, fees and additional information:

Speicher
The Speicher pool, located in the basement of the Speicher school complex, is open 8-10 p.m. Tuesday, 7-9:30 p.m. Wednesday, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 3-5:30 p.m. Saturday. The pool is closed on Monday and Sunday.

Groups of 20 people or more receive reduced entry fees if they submit a written request to the Speicher area administration office in advance. The Speicher pool is mainly used for sports lessons by students. Entry cost varies between 2.50 and 5 Euro.

Gondorf
Gondorf's Caribbean 20-meter long bath pool is located outside the base in the basement of the Gondorf Eifel Sport hotel and is open daily from 9 a.m. - 11 p.m. Entry is 8 Euro for adults and 5 Euro for children. Families with children receive a price reduction.

The Caribbean bath pool is small but includes a water slide. This pool is more for entertainment than for serious swimming because of its size and shape. A refreshment bar is also available. At the Gondorf pool, the entry price includes access to the sauna, steam bath and solarium.

Bitburg
One modern pool complex is the water paradise CASCADE, which offers pools, solariums, saunas, massage rooms, whirlpools and slides, as well as restaurants, health treatments, shows, music and laser presentations. The complex consists of six different pools. Occasionally, the pools are reserved for training of the Eifel Sharks and other swim clubs.

The CASCADE pool complex is open 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 10:30 a.m. - 10 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sunday.

CASCADE's sauna is open 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and German holidays. The sauna is reserved for women 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday and 6 - 10 p.m. Wednesday. All other times it is open to men and women. Entry to the sauna is 11.80 Euro per person for three hours, 12.80 Euro per person for four hours and 14.50 Euro per person for the entire day.

Adult entry to the CASCADE water paradise is 2.90 Euro for one hour, 4.40 Euro for two hours, 5.60 Euro for three hours, 6.50 Euro for four hours and 7.50 Euro for the entire day. Children up to age 17 pay 1.90 Euro for one hour, 2.70 Euro for two hours, 3.30 Euro for three hours, 3.50 Euro for four hours and 4.80 Euro for the entire day. Reduced prices are available when purchasing multiple entry tickets.

CASCADE is located at Talweg 4 in Bitburg.

Anyone interested may become a member of a swim club. For information on how to become a member, stop by or call the CASCADE pool at 06561-9683-0. For more information, visit the Cascade homepage at www.cascade-bitburg.de.

Wittlich
The Wittlich Vitellius indoor pool is 25 meters long, 12.5 meters wide and located near the B-50.

Vitellius pool is open 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday, 7 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, 7 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. and 8 - 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, 7 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Thursday, 7 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. Friday, 8-9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Saturday, and 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday and German holidays.

Wittlich offers a warm water pool day reserved for women 8-9:30 p.m. Tuesday. Wednesday is also a warm water day.

Pool playtime for children is 2:30-5 p.m. Thursdays.

Americans are welcome to join the swim team. For information and to sign up for membership, stop by the Vitelius pool cashier's office or call the local Wittlich sports club at 06571-3171.

Entry to the Vitellius pool is 3 Euro for adults and 1.80 Euro for children, ages 4-18. Wittlich also offers multiple ticket books at reduced fares. Wittlich's pool is divided into swimmer and non-swimmer's sections and has one- and three-meter diving boards.

Trier
Trier's Stadtbad, or city pool, is near the Roman bath. The complex consists of five different pools including swimmer's pool, a combined swimmer's and non-swimmer's pool, an entertainment section with fountain and a toddler's section.

It is open 1-10 p.m. Monday, 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. Tuesday, 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 6 a.m. - 9 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday and German holidays. Pool policy states visitors must leave the water 30 minutes prior to closing time.

The Trier Stadtbad offers water gymnastics and aqua-aerobics, which are included in the entry price. The pool also offers several diving boards.

The pool is reserved for mothers with small children 9:30 a.m. - noon Saturday and 10:30 a.m. - noon Sunday.

Trier's city pool has saunas, solariums, whirlpools, a fitness area, massage therapy, a cafeteria, restaurant area and more. To join a swim club, stop by the Stadtbad or call 0651-7172350.

Every larger town in Germany has at least one pool complex, many of them consisting of pools and recreational facilities, but all have changing rooms, showers and lockers.

For more information about the Cochem, Bad-Bertrich and Traben-Trarbach thermal baths, call 02671-97990 for Cochem, 02674-932200 for Bad-Bertrich and 06541-83030 for Traben-Trarbach.