Waldbad Enz (Dornbirn)

The Waldbad Enz is a public outdoor swimming pool in Dornbirn, a town in the Vorarlberg region of Austria. It sits beside the Dornbirner Ach river in the Enz district, surrounded by green hills. The site has been a place for swimming since the late 1930s, when the first concrete pools were built. Over the years, the baths were improved with filtration and heating systems to keep the water clean and warm. In 1988, after years of complaints about poor conditions, the pool was completely rebuilt with modern facilities. The rebuilt Waldbad Enz opened in 1988 after a major renovation designed by architect Guntram Mätzler. The city ran a competition among six firms before choosing his plan. The new pools were made of stainless steel and included features like a mother-and-child area, a diving pool, and a large adventure pool. A long twisting waterslide and beach volleyball courts were added to keep visitors entertained. The baths are now managed by Dornbirner Sport- und Freizeitbetriebe GmbH alongside the town’s indoor pool and cable car. Visitors find four separate pools, each with its own purpose. The adventure pool is the largest at 29 by 21 metres, with water jets, a mushroom feature, and massage nozzles. The diving pool is 11.8 by 8 metres and has one-metre and three-metre springboards. A 50 by 21-metre sports pool suits swimmers, while a smaller mother-and-child pool offers a safer space. Spread across the site are sunbathing lawns, shaded rest areas, and sports pitches. The whole place sits quietly among trees near the river, offering a relaxed day by the water.