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Destination Guide - Pau.
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OverviewFlights from London City LCY to Pau PUF with CityJet
Our top five sightsChateau de PauThere are nine centuries of history to explore in this imposing castle and birthplace of Henri IV set in beautiful Renaissance gardens. Boulevard des PyrénéesCafés and hundreds of palm trees line this sweeping boulevard on the escarpment overlooking the Gave de Pau River. Helpful markers on the guardrail show which majestic Pyrenean peak is in the distance. Palais BeaumontThis 1900 former winter palace is now the town’s casino and conference centre, surrounded by Parc Beaumont’s large expanse of inviting gardens. English villas circuitThose 19th-century English visitors who fell in love with Pau left behind their sumptuous villas and elaborate gardens, both of which make for an atmospheric walk through the town. Musée des Beaux ArtsPau’s premier art collection is housed in this handsome 1930s building, where works spanning five centuries include paintings by Degas, Rubens and El Greco. Our top five activitiesGolfingPau is home to the first golf course in continental Europe, and has been attracting golfers since 1856 to its agreeable surroundings. SpasRelax in warm waters at the Calicéo complex, where Jacuzzis and water jets ease tired muscles and water bikes get you moving again.Boulevard du Cami SaliéMore Wine-tastingHenri IV was baptised with a few golden drops of Jurançon wine, one of the first in France to receive an appellation d’origine contrôlée. Try either the crisp dry white or the sweet dessert wine. WatersportsHead to the riverside Stade d’Eaux Vives, where you can go white-water rafting in the man-made rapids or kayaking in the gentler waters of the sports complex. SkiingThe ski resorts and cross-country ski trails of the Pyrénées National Park are just 50km from Pau, the nearest one being Gourette in the Ossau valley. Our top five eventsFebruary: Carnaval BéarnaisThe Palois really let their hair down during their February pre-Lent carnival, with seven days of wild spectacles, dancing, quite a bit of cross-dressing and street parades. May: Grand Prix de PauEvery May, the city is deafened by the roar of racing cars zooming through its streets. Vintage racing cars have their own event the weekend before. June: Urban SessionThis festival celebrates street culture, hip-hop and dance, with gigs, breakdance sessions and a chance to show off your DJing skills. August: Festival Hestiv’OcPau’s Occitan heritage is highlighted in this lively festival of all things southern French. The streets fill with musician, dancers and performers, and the cinemas host an Occitan film festival. December: La Poule au Pot est Reine!Henri IV’s birthday is celebrated every year with a sound-and-light show at the chateau. Chefs then spend a week trying to perfect the chicken dish the king declared no family should be without.
ShoppingFashion and interiors boutiques line rue Louis Barthou, which turns into rue Henri IV. You’re certain to see a wide selection of berets, which, although they epitomise neighbouring Basque region, were first commercially produced in Béarn. The dozens of food stalls at Les Halles, the immense indoor market in Place de la République, offer irresistible charcuterie and Pyrenean cheeses; its adjacent Carreau is the place to buy seasonal produce from local farmers. Pop into Boutique Francis Miot (48 rue Joffre, 05 5927 6951) and try a Paloise sweet speciality, coucougnette, a delicious combination of chocolate, almonds and marzipan. Food & DrinkNot surprisingly, given Pau’s location in the southwest, duck features prominently, as do the sheep’s milk cheeses of the Pyrénées. Refined dishes are served in Le Jeu de Paume at the Parc Beaumont hotel (1 avenue Edouard VII, 05 5911 8400), including flash-fried foie gras and fish fresh from the market. The convivial Le Bistrot d’à Côté (1 place Gramont, 05 5927 9808) does exquisite things with beef cheeks and keeps it simple with the catch of the day. Have a sweet Jurançon for an aperitif on one of the café terraces on the boulevard des Pyrénées. NightlifeHead to the bars in Le Triangle, where rue Lespy and rue Emile Garet converge south of rue Castelnau. Le Garage (47 rue Emile Garet, 05 5983 7517) has been enticing people with its live music and friendly atmosphere since 1993. There’s a buzzing Mexican ambience at La Fiesta Latina (6 rue Etigny, 05 5983 7008), near the chateau. Some of the bars along the boulevard des Pyrénées open late on the weekend, including The Galway (No 20, 05 5982 9466). Zénith (20 boulevard du Cami Salié, 05 5980 7744) is the place for concerts, theatre and dance, featuring everything from Swan Lake to French rocker Johnny Hallyday. Accommodation in PauPau’s most luxurious hotel is the sleek five-star Parc Beaumont (1 avenue Edouard VI, 05 5911 8400), whose airy contemporary rooms have balconies overlooking the park. The other five-star option, Villa Navarre (59 avenue Trespoey, 05 5914 6565), is in unattractive 19th-century building about 20 minutes’ walk from the town centre. Budget options include the three-star Hotel de Gramont (3 place Gramont, 05 5927 8404), near the chateau, and the two-star Hotel le Bourbon (12 place Georges Clemenceau, 05 5927 5312) in the centre. Our favourites
Flights from London City LCY to Pau PUF with CityJet Pau Airport Information
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