Ideally located halfway between the sea and the mountains, at the heart of Pyrénées-Atlantiques, the historic capital of Béarn invites you to discover its many treasures!
An emblematic monument of the city, Pau Castle was in turn a fortress of the Viscounts of Béarn, a castle fort under Gaston Phoebus and a royal residence in the Renaissance. It is famous for being the birthplace of Henry IV, King of France and Navarre, in 1553. Now converted into a national museum, this majestic building is a listed Historic Monument and houses an impressive collection of Flanders and Gobelins tapestries from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries! The prestigious “room of a hundred covers” and its immense oak table, the King’s chamber and his tortoiseshell crib, and the apartment of the Empress Eugenie, with its delicate Sèvres porcelain, turn a visit here into an unforgettable journey through time. Pau Castle also has a landscaped park with wonderful Renaissance gardens, ideal for a leisurely stroll… A haven of tranquillity where you can enjoy a short break before continuing with your exploration of the medieval side streets in the historic city centre.
Then head to the lovely Beaumont Park with its beautiful trees, and be sure to go via the unmissable Boulevard des Pyrénées. A real panoramic balcony, this 1,800 metre-long walk offers wonderful views of the Pyrenees mountaintops in fine weather.