Leisure · Amnéville-les-Thermes
Amnéville: ski, soak in 38 °C water and meet a tiger, all on the same day
In the morning, you carve down a snowy slope at -5 °C. In the afternoon, you float in 38 °C thermal water pumped up from 900 metres underground. And somewhere in between, a white tiger stares straight at you.
No flights needed. This is Amnéville-les-Thermes, about twenty minutes from Hayange. Locals call it "the leisure town", and it earns the name. It's where families from the area go to recharge, and where teams on assignment come to unwind after a long week on site.
Here's everything you need for a great day (or weekend) in Amnéville in 2026.
Things to do in Amnéville at a glance
| Place | Best for | When |
|---|---|---|
| Thermapolis | Families (age 4+), couples, friends | All year, reopened late May 2026 |
| Villa Pompéi | Adults only | All year |
| SnowWorld (formerly Snowhall) | Skiers, snowboarders, beginners age 3+ | All year, shorter hours in summer |
| Amnéville Zoo | Everyone | All year |
| Walygator Grand Est | Families, teens, thrill-seekers | April to autumn |
Thermapolis: 38 °C thermal water, freshly renovated
This is the big news of 2026. Closed since 24 February 2025 for major works, Thermapolis reopened on 29 May 2026. It has a new roof over the pools, fully redesigned changing rooms and, best of all, a new outdoor pool of about 200 m² filled with thermal water, with bubble benches, massage jets and a paddling area for little ones.
The concept hasn't changed, and that's a good thing. The water comes from the Saint-Eloy spring, 900 metres below ground, rich in iron and minerals. According to the thermal centre, it's rain that fell on the Vosges mountains some 25,000 years ago. You move from 38 °C hot baths to 22 °C cold baths, drift along the lazy river, and try the geysers, swan-neck jets, steam rooms and saunas.
Who's it for? Children are welcome from age 4. It's the perfect plan when it rains, when it's cold, or when everyone just needs to switch off.
Prices and opening hours: check the official Pôle thermal d'Amnéville website (polethermalamneville.com).
Villa Pompéi: the adults-only escape
Right next door, its big sister plays a different tune. Villa Pompéi is inspired by the baths of ancient Rome: over 400 m² of indoor and outdoor thermal pools, hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms, a lazy river and treatments by appointment.
The golden rule: entry is for adults only. No shrieks, no splashing, just the sound of water. Ideal for a couple while the kids enjoy Thermapolis with a grandparent.
SnowWorld: France's longest indoor ski slope
Yes, you can ski in Moselle in July. The former Amnéville Snowhall, opened in 2005, has been run since 2021 by Dutch indoor-ski specialist SnowWorld, and reopened as SnowWorld Amnéville in January 2022.
The numbers are impressive: 620 metres long, 35 metres wide, 90 metres of vertical drop. SnowWorld bills it as the longest indoor slope in France. It's around -5 °C inside, with real snow, a beginner slope and a sledging area.
What you can do: skiing, snowboarding, sledging, tubing and lessons with the ESF ski school. Helmets are mandatory (free to borrow) and the minimum age is 3.
When to go: SnowWorld is open all year. In the main season, early November to late April, the slopes open in the morning. From April to October, hours are shorter (closed on some weekdays, main slope mostly in the evening). Always check the schedule on snowworld.com before you go.
With colleagues? SnowWorld also hosts group and company outings, with two meeting rooms on site. One run together at the end of the week does more for a team than any speech.
Amnéville Zoo: 2,000 animals and 70 dinosaurs
Founded in 1986, Amnéville Zoo covers 18 hectares and is home to more than 2,000 animals from around 360 species. It ranks among the most visited zoos in France.
You'll see Siberian and white tigers, polar bears, elephants, gorillas, orangutans, giraffes, sea lions and more. The keeper talks at feeding time are often the kids' favourite moment.
What about Tiger World? Many people remember it: this tiger show arena opened in 2015. In November 2020, the zoo announced the end of its tiger and parrot shows to focus on education and conservation. The tigers are still there.
The kids' new favourite: the Dinosaur Forest, a trail with around 70 life-size dinosaurs. And in the colder months, the Luminescences festival turns the park into an evening walk of lights.
The zoo is open all year, with fewer days and shorter hours in low season. Programme and prices on zoo-amneville.com.
Walygator Grand Est: roller coasters next door
Strictly speaking, the park is in Maizières-lès-Metz, right next to Amnéville. It opened in 1989 as Big Bang Schtroumpf (the Smurfs), became Walibi and then Walygator, and has been called Walygator Grand Est since 2020.
Don't miss Anaconda, a wooden coaster from 1989, and The Monster, an inverted coaster by Bolliger & Mabillard that opened in 2010. Add several water rides, including Grizzly Falls and Dino'Raft, and summer days end soaked and happy.
2026 season: opened on 18 April 2026, with a refreshed 1900-themed area and new summer shows. A new family ride, Caïcos Expédition, has been pushed back to 2027. Autumn traditionally ends with Walloween. Opening dates change every year: check walygatorparc.com.
Our ideal weekend plan
Saturday morning: the zoo at opening time, when the animals are most active. Saturday afternoon: Thermapolis for families, Villa Pompéi for adults. Sunday: SnowWorld in the morning in winter, or a full day at Walygator from April to autumn.
For colleagues on assignment, a short version works brilliantly: an evening ski session at SnowWorld midweek, a thermal afternoon on Saturday. Planning a proper team outing? Read our team-building ideas in Moselle and our guide to weekends on assignment.
Fancy some culture afterwards? Metz is half an hour away: here's how to see Metz in one day. More ideas nearby: things to do near Thionville.
Where to stay near Amnéville
Amnéville is about 15 km from Hayange, roughly twenty minutes by car. That's where seven of our ten apartments are, in the heart of the Fensch valley. The other three are in Hettange-Grande, about half an hour away.
- 2 to 12 guests depending on the apartment, with separate beds (up to 8 beds in one apartment): great for big families or teams.
- Equipped kitchen, washing machine (handy after a day in the snow or at the zoo), Nespresso machine, Smart TV and Wi-Fi.
- Bed linen and towels provided, self check-in and WhatsApp support.
Booking directly on our site is cheaper than on Airbnb or Booking.com, and cancellation is free up to 5 days before arrival. Check availability
Frequently asked questions
What to do in Amnéville when it rains?
Thermapolis (age 4+), Villa Pompéi (adults) and SnowWorld are all indoors and open year-round. The zoo is still pleasant in light rain, with several indoor areas.
Is Thermapolis open in 2026?
Yes. After closing for renovation in February 2025, Thermapolis reopened on 29 May 2026 with a new outdoor family pool.
Does the Amnéville Snowhall still exist?
Yes, under a new name: it's now SnowWorld Amnéville, with the same 620-metre slope. It's open all year, with shorter hours from April to October.
Is Walygator in Amnéville?
Almost: the park is in Maizières-lès-Metz, a few minutes from Amnéville. It opens from April to autumn, with Walloween nights.
How long do you need for Amnéville Zoo?
Plan a full day to see everything at a relaxed pace, including feeding times and the Dinosaur Forest.