Pau Travel Guide

Pau

43.2951, -0.3708

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City Introduction

Pau is a city located in southwestern France close to the border with Spain. Pau is in the Béarn area, which from 1464 was an independent principality with Pau as its capital. However, the city is known from sources as early as the 12th century, when the city arose at a castle that was built at a strategically important ford. It was Béarn’s then viscount who built the castle. After gaining the status of capital in 1464, Pau became the seat of Pamplona’s kings in 1512. It got this status when Castile conquered Pamplona, whereby the monarchs moved to the area north of the Pyrenees.

Pau became a politically and culturally important city in the 16th century, but this stopped in 1620, when Béarn’s independence ended. However, the French king granted Pau and the region some autonomy and the so-called Parliament of Pau was established, and it was in operation until the time of the French Revolution. This was followed by the latter half of the 19th century, when wealthy tourists of the belle époque arrive to Pau in number due to the beautiful location and a mild climate in winter. Throughout the 20th century, the city was industrialized, and Pau became a university city in 1972.

Pau is a city with a cozy and elegant city center with several larger squares and several sights. At Place Royale you can see the city’s town hall to the north and a viewing terrace to the south along the Boulevard des Pyrénées, from which there is a view of the mountains. The short cable car, Funiculaire de Pau, leaves from here. On Place Georges-Clemenceau you can see a mixed architecture around one of the city’s fountains, and both squares are in the old center of Pau. Add the enormous Place de Verdun to these. You find it with large lawns in front of the Caserne Bernadotte.

If you go west from the Place Royale, you come to Pau’s medieval castle, Château de Pau, where France’s King Henry IV was born in 1553. The old castle has been rebuilt and extended several times over time like in the Renaissance era, when the former castle was furnished as an elegant residence. Today the castle is home to a national museum with fine collections, and by visiting the museum you can of course also explore the residence itself.

Among Pau’s many fine buildings is the Palais Beaumont, home of the Pau-Pays de Béarn Symphony Orchestra. There are also many interesting museums in the city. In addition to the national museum in Château de Pau, they include the Musée des Beaux-Arts, where you can see many interesting paintings mainly from the 15th century to the 20th century, and the Musée Bernadotte, which is housed in the house where the later King Charles XIV Johan of Sweden and Norway was born in 1763. He was the first king from the house of Bernadotte.

Other Attractions

Day Trips

Lourdes

Lourdes is a city located in the French part of the Pyrenees and it is part of the Hautes-Pyrénées department. The place has been inhabited since Roman times, when a castle and fortifications were established here. Over the centuries, Lourdes played a minor role, and in the middle of the 19th century, approximately 4,000 people lived in the town, whose development really took off in 1858.

More about Lourdes

Bayonne

Bayonne is a city located in southwestern France close to the Atlantic Ocean and the Spanish border. Its history goes back at least to a fortified settlement in the first century. There was a similar military presence in Roman times before an actual settlement developed. By the 11th century, Bayonne had grown to become the capital of the province of Labourd, and in the following century, the first city was built at the river Adour, enabling new growth.

More about Bayonne

Geolocation

In short

Pau, France[/caption]

Overview of Pau

The city became a politically and culturally important city in the 16th century, but this stopped in 1620, when Béarn’s independence ended. However, the French king granted Pau and the region some autonomy and the so-called Parliament of the city was established, and it was in operation until the time of the French Revolution. This was followed by the latter half of the 19th century, when wealthy tourists of the belle époque arrive to Pau in number due to the beautiful location and a mild climate in winter. Throughout the 20th century, the city was industrialized, and Pau became a university city in 1972.

The city is a city with a cozy and elegant city center with several larger squares and several sights. At Place Royale you can see the city’s town hall to the north and a viewing terrace to the south along the Boulevard des Pyrénées, from which there is a view of the mountains. The short cable car, Funiculaire de Pau, leaves from here. On Place Georges-Clemenceau you can see a mixed architecture around one of the city’s fountains, and both squares are in the old center of Pau. Add the enormous Place de Verdun to these. You find it with large lawns in front of the Caserne Bernadotte.

About the Pau travel guide

Contents: Tours in the city + tours in the surrounding area
Published: Released soon
Author: Stig Albeck
Publisher: Vamados.com
Language: English

About the travel guide

The Pau travel guide gives you an overview of the sights and activities of the French city. Read about top sights and other sights, and get a tour guide with tour suggestions and detailed descriptions of all the city’s most important churches, monuments, mansions, museums, etc.

Pau is waiting for you, and at vamados.com you can also find cheap flights and great deals on hotels for your trip. You just select your travel dates and then you get flight and accommodation suggestions in and around the city.