Pau

Pau, France

Nestled in the corner of rural south-west France stands Pau, the capital of the Béarn province, a bastion of history and culture. The town occupies a unique geographical position in the foothills of the Pyrenées. With its awe-inspiring views of the mountain range, Pau is only a few hundred kilometres from the major towns of Bordeaux and Toulouse and even closer to Spain and the Atlantic Ocean. A springboard to sunny beaches or snow-capped mountains, Pau’s pretty streets, and excellent gastronomy are enough to ensure leaving will be difficult.

Population:

242,829 (2014)

Currency:

Euro (EUR) €1 = 100 cents

Emergency Numbers:

Emergency: 112
Police: 17
Ambulance: 15
Fire Brigade: 18

Opening Hours:

Most shops are open from approximately 9am-7pm. Smaller places may close for a couple of hours during lunchtime. Shops are open on Sundays at their own discretion.

Newspapers:

La Dépêche du Midi
La Nouvelle République des Pyrénées
Sud Ouest
Le Monde
Le Figaro
Libération

The City

Pau is a versatile city, and most sights are located just a short funicular ride away from the train station. Set on a hillside, you will find a majestic château, the former residence of Henri IV, the first Protestant king of France.

The town’s iconic street, the Boulevard des Pyrénées, offers beautiful views adorned by palm trees, mountains, and the national park surrounding it. Behind "the strip" there are busy little streets shooting off and converging around the main squares and central areas of Place Clémenceau and Place Royal. Everything is easily accessible from the boulevard, whether it's the bars lining it, the boutiques and clothes shops behind it, or the Centre Bosquet a few minutes’ walk away.

Do & See

Pau offers many historical attractions like the impressive Château de Pau, and various museums with interesting art and heritage on display. If you would like to go on a longer excursion, you will also find a wide range of splendid cities and villages around Pau. The combination of castles, beautiful architecture, English style gardens and fun activities makes this town well worth exploring.

Dining

Pau and the Béarn area are famed for their cuisine. As with other parts of south-west France, it is the duck that dominates local dishes. Some specialties in Pau include foie gras, tender slices of duck breast (magret de canard), cured ham (jambon de Bayonne) and creamy mountain sheep cheeses. The Palois like a good stew as well, often a garbure béarnaise, with potatoes, white beans, and, of course, duck. Poule au pot, a whole chicken cooked in a pot with onions, potatoes and wine, is also popular, and is washed down with a dry Jurançon wine.

Cafes

After a long day of sightseeing in Pau, drop in one of its numerous coffee shops and enjoy the wide range of good food and pastries.