Badeschiff, the Floating Swimming Pool in Berlin

The Badeschiff is one of Berlin's most unusual attraction - a floating public swimming pool in the East Harbour section of the River Spree. The Badeschiff allows citizens to swim in a safe and sanitary environment in their river, at least in a figurative sense. The Spree itself is far too polluted to permit safe bathing.

Since its opening in 2004, it has become a true hot spot in town: deep blue swimming pool, wooden boardwalks, an open-air bar, with a stunning view. Each year between November and March the entire area is covered by a translucent shell and transformed into an enclosed wellness area. The Badeschiff was created by local artist, Susanne Lorenz, as an art project organized by the City Art Project Society of Berlin. The pool was converted from the hull of a vessel measuring eight by thirty-two metres.