At the entrance to the CNSD, on Route des Archives, CITÉSPORTS It’s one of those places that’s hard to sum up in a single word. «Sports hall» is too narrow a term. «Aquatic centre» doesn’t quite capture it. «Sports complex» comes closer: it is a large, multi-discipline facility, managed by the private group Récréa, which brings together under one roof what a resident of Bellifontaine would normally find spread across three or four different locations.
A 50 m Olympic-size pool, and the rest around it
The heart is a 50 m Olympic pool - rare at this size outside major cities. The lanes are installed daily, and there is a full aquatic programme: aquagym, aquabike, aquapalms, aquasports, swimming school for children aged 6 and over, and adult lessons. Visit sauna complements the swimming equipment.
Anything but monothematic
Around the pond, there is an impressive array of plants: cardio-musculation platform with over 50 machines, group fitness classes, dojo for martial arts, boxing gym, gymnasium for team sports, athletics track interior and exterior, climbing wall, synthetic football/rugby pitches. The venue is also accommodation and restaurant — a legacy of its historical role in hosting sports training camps at the CNSD.
Not quite a public facility
Important to note: CITÉSPORTS is not not a municipal swimming pool. The business model is that of a private complex, with membership and rates for members and non-members. We encourage you to come along for your first visit: free entry to try out the gym or a class, and €5 for a taster aqua-activity session. After that, you can choose between single-visit passes and an annual membership, depending on how often you plan to visit.
Practice
Access is via the route des Archives, pedestrian gate (ring the bell; you’ll need to leave your ID at reception the first time — this is a military site). The full price list and weekly programmes are available at citesports.fr.
