Łaźnia Miejska w Zgierzu

Łaźnia Miejska w Zgierzu, czyli dawny Miejski Zakład Kąpielowy przy ulicy Łęczyckiej 24, to zabytkowy budynek z 1929 roku, w którym nadal działa pływalnia. Mieści się w Zgierzu, nie w Łodzi.

Built because the city lacked bathrooms

The bathhouse was constructed when only a handful of dwellings in Zgierz had access to running water and private bathrooms. The City Council passed a resolution in 1927, construction began on 15 May that year, and works were completed in early February 1929. The facility opened to residents on 5 February 1929. The investment was financed by a loan from the American company Ulen et Co., which at that time served seventeen Polish cities and also funded the construction of a slaughterhouse in Zgierz.

What was inside

The original furnishings included an indoor swimming pool measuring 10 by 17 metres, sixteen bathtubs, a steam bath, a Roman sauna, massage rooms, eleven shower cubicles and a mechanical laundry. The pool was Poland's second indoor swimming pool. Older residents of Zgierz remember Saturday queues for baths, and over time the bathtubs and cubicles were replaced by changing rooms as the facility became primarily a swimming pool. The history of the building and city is documented in the Muzeum Miasta Zgierza [Museum of the City of Zgierz], which holds some of the archival materials about the bathhouse.

Architecture and films

The design is attributed to architect Horodecki, known for his work in Kyiv, appearing in sources as both Władysław Horodecki and Leszek Dezydery Horodecki. The pool's website also mentions Feliks Michalski. The glazed roof and interior layout made the bathhouse a popular filming location. Films shot here include CK Dezerterów, Trójkąt Bermudzki, Lekcję martwego języka and Limuzynę Daimler-Benz, as well as television series Osiecka, Komisarz Alex and Belfer. The historic fabric of the city is complemented by the nearby Park Kulturowy Miasto Tkaczy [Cultural Park City of Weavers].

Current condition and renovation

The building is listed in Zgierz's register of heritage monuments as Miejski Zakład Kąpielowy przy ulicy Łęczyckiej 24, a masonry structure dating from 1924 to 1929. Previously, the pool basin and technology were refurbished, removing the old steam boiler, and some former equipment was retained as an exhibition element. Since 2025, renovation of the facade, historic entrance doors, chimney and ventilation turret has been underway, scheduled for completion by the end of 2026. The city has announced a further stage of work inside. The pool operates during renovation, though it is occasionally closed for technical breaks. In July and August 2026 the pool was closed, with operations resuming in September.

What is open for visitors

Available is a recreational pool measuring 10 by 17 metres with depths ranging from 0.7 to 2.4 metres, with water temperature around 29 degrees. Two saunas operate alongside it, a dry Finnish sauna with temperatures between 85 and 90 degrees and a steam sauna, as well as a salt grotto open on weekdays. The facility is intimate; for a sports pool with full-size lanes, consider instead the Zatoka Sportu [Sports Bay].

Practical information

• Address: ulica Łęczycka 24, Zgierz. The facility operates despite ongoing facade works.
• Access: from Łódź by suburban tram to Zgierz, then local transport towards ulica Łęczycka.
• Opening hours according to the pool are Monday to Friday 8:00 to 21:20, Saturday 10:00 to 20:00, Sunday 11:00 to 18:00. Check before your visit as the schedule changes during technical breaks and group classes.
• What to expect: a small, heritage pool with saunas and salt grotto, not a water park facility.
• Access to saunas and grotto may be limited at weekends; the schedule is published by the pool operator.