We took the ferry from Lausanne over to Evian to check out their public pools/lake access over on the French side.

Hugely surprised by giant signs forbidding regular bathing trunks, only Speedo-type bathing suits allowed in all of the pools and on the water slide.

Needless to say, my son and husband would rather undergo dental surgery than be seen in a Speedo, so those two were only allowed to swim in the lake.

Is this a French thing? What is the reason that swim trunks are forbidden?

I've heard some places don't allow them here either the reason being is that often those "trunks" are the same ones kids have been wearing all day long, dirty underwear included.

yes. that is what it is. a question of hygiene.
some of those small & big boys wear those trunks day & night for days and weeks and wash'em in the swimming pool. clever but slightly disgusting.

Well, that's disgusting. There is a big difference between wearing a pair of regular shorts and underwear versus an actual pair of swim trunks (that are worn without underwear and are meant for swimming).

Guess we will stick to the pools on this side of the lake that don't have that restriction.

Not sure that my dangly bits would fit into Speedo style swimwear. Ho hum, I can live with this sizeism affront to my liberties.

No, we have the same thing in Baden too. I remember reading the article in the newspaper.
Here is one article I found with photos. The basis for the ban is the for reasons in the above post - dirty underwear.
http://www.20min.ch/news/schweiz/story/15957068

I think that a bathing suit that is not a speedo that has the built in mesh is okay as it is obvious that it is a bathing suit worn without any underwear.

Not in Evian! They pulled my son out of the line for the water ride and told him his trunks were forbidden. I tried to explain to them (in my horrible French) that this was a bathing suit in the US and not street clothes. To me it was obvious, i.e. fabric, style, lack of underwear, etc., but not to him, apparently.

Well, at least now it's official: Men are pigs

just as FYI.. I usually go for this type of suit at the pools..it's acceptable for the "pool police" and not so embarrassing as the banana sling

off to buy some daniel craigs as we speak. not a pretty sight.

I was trying to figure that out thinking it was cockney slang..when it finally dawned on me.

I think the swimm guards are not going to be checking gazilions of swimmer's mesh to make sure, nor their lack of undies under that mesh...

It's an European thing, not only French. It's a question of hygiene, since the long trunks (and I am talking the latest few inches above ankles teen fashion) do look like shorts. I think it is also because of the fact, people actually go to pools to swimm, and in those long trunks, it gets a little trickier. Speedos are ideal for some serious swimming..If I could choose, I think I prefer the speedos to the large shorts (to look at, I mean..)

But, it is slowly changing, you see guys now in kinda mini shorts with longer pant legs, I know, still unacceptable for some guys, but who cares? As long as there is fun at the pool, no? What's the hangups? Cant' your men just relax and wear those funky things, comes with Europe, no?

common, what is exactly embarrassing here?

I confirm that it is totally acceptable to look like this

ahhh the unwelcome return of the budgie smugglers

I got turned away from the pool in Morzine with a pair of swimming shorts with a mesh, had to rent some very unflattering Speedos for €3 and give my shirt as a deposit. But fair to say it was the cleanest pool I have ever swam in.

the problem is not all of us look like that.

OK now I am serioulsy grossed out, they RENT speedo's ? Ew !

Ok, this is very

In speedo, you keep the private hair you are losing in your speedo ... In trunk, they are free to go!

This was an answer we had!