Pasienky swimming pool, following its reconstruction. (source: Marek Velček)
Following a comprehensive €5.5-million renovation, Bratislava’s only Olympic-sized swimming pool is ready to reopen its doors. The Pasienky facility, a local landmark since 1975, has been carefully restored to preserve its historical character while meeting the demands of modern-day athletes.
Although the pool will officially welcome returning members of the public on Sunday, March 15, sport clubs have been testing its revitalised waters since March 3, marking the facility’s return to the city’s sports scene.
“The reconstruction and modernisation focused primarily on the heart of the swimming pool — the original 1970s-era technology, which was in very poor condition. After 50 years of continuous operation, it simply had to be replaced,” said Bratislava Mayor Matúš Vallo, as quoted by the TASR newswire.
The project included the complete refurbishment of the pool’s interior, including new tiles, paving, a multimedia scoreboard, and upgraded storage areas for swimming lanes and water polo equipment. According to Vallo, the city also plans to continue revitalising the surrounding exterior, with the possible addition of a new outdoor pool.
Structural repairs were carried out to address the leaking walls and roof, alongside the installation of new windows and a redesigned grandstand, where large-format tiles have replaced the original plastic seating.
“Because the building is a declared city landmark, the renovation was conducted while respecting the original design of architect Kamil Kosman, under the supervision of his son, René Kosman, while also incorporating modern elements,” Vallo added.
Bratislava Vice-Mayor Lenka Antalová Plavúchová emphasised that the facility has already received positive feedback from top Slovak swimmers.
“I’m pleased that renowned athletes like Martina Moravcová, Richard Nagy and Tomáš Klobučník have praised the improvements, comparing the pool favourably to modern venues across Europe,” she said.
According to Ladislav Križan, director of the municipal company STARZ, which manages the facility, one of the key moments in the project was the city’s purchase of the land beneath the pool for over €2 million.
“A major breakthrough came with nearly €1 million in funding from the Sports Promotion Fund, which finally allowed us to move forward after years of stagnation,” Križan said.
Looking ahead, construction is also underway on a new 25-metre-long stainless-steel pool in an adjacent building, set to open this autumn.
Meanwhile, the Pasienky swimming pool is preparing to mark a significant milestone: on March 26, it will celebrate 50 years since its official opening. To commemorate the occasion, organisers are planning a 24-hour swimming marathon, a celebration hosted by the Bratislava Self-Governing Region, plus a range of other accompanying events.
