🇫🇷France · Places to discover
What to see in Pau?
18 places selected by the community - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities.
Pau derives its singularity from a rare position: from the Boulevard des Pyrénées, the mountain chain stretches 400 kilometres as a permanent backdrop. Birthplace of Henri IV, it once attracted British aristocracy who left behind a golf course, Victorian villas and a certain way of taking time. The Château de Pau, remodelled under Louis-Philippe, anchors the historic centre without overwhelming it.
Spring and autumn offer the best conditions: views of the peaks are sharper than in summer, when heat haze clouds everything. Two days are enough to explore the city, but add a day if you're heading into the Ossau valley. The train from Bordeaux or Toulouse is convenient and sidesteps parking headaches in town. Don't concentrate your stay on the château alone: the Hédas quarter below deserves just as much attention.
Museums
3 places
1Wikimedia CommonsMuseum
Museum of Fine Arts of Pau
A small museum with surprisingly fine collections: a Rubens, an El Greco and above all the celebrated painting 'The Punishment of a Vestal' by Delaroche. A nationally significant museum, often overlooked by hurried visitors.
2Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Museum
Bernadotte Museum
The birthplace of Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, an advocate's son from Pau who rose to become King of Sweden as Charles XIV Johan. A romantic tale told within an elegant 18th-century townhouse.
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Museum
Museum
Pau Castle National Museum – Royal Apartments
Beyond the façade, the castle's private chambers preserve the giant tortoise that allegedly served as Henri IV's cradle, alongside extraordinary Empire furnishings. A guided tour is essential.
Religious sites
2 places
4Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0Religious site
Church of Saint-Martin de Pau
A striking neo-Gothic edifice from the 19th century whose steeple dominates the Hédas Quarter. Inside, remarkable polychrome stained glass and a rare sense of contemplation in the heart of the city await.
5Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Religious site
Church of Saint-Jacques de Pau
A waypoint on the Compostela route via Béarn, this 19th-century church marks the start of the Piedmont Pyrenean way. Its bell tower, visible from the boulevard, serves as an architectural landmark for the city centre.
Castles & fortresses
1 place
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Castle
Castle
Château de Pau
Birthplace of Henri IV, this royal castle dominates the city from a prominent ridge. Its richly furnished apartments and exceptional collection of Gobelins tapestries rank it among the finest châteaux of the South-West.
Nature
1 place
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Nature
Nature
Bastard Forest
An urban woodland of 100 hectares on the city's doorstep, crisscrossed with marked trails and mountain-bike tracks. Locals come here to run, walk their dogs or simply breathe beneath the oaks and pines.
Parks & gardens
2 places
8Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Park
Beaumont Park
A 10-hectare English-style park designed in the late 19th century for British winter visitors. Its centuries-old cedars, Belle Époque casino and rose garden create a unique green haven in the city centre.
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Park
Park
Pau Castle Park
A formal French garden descending in terraces above the Gave de Pau, planted with century-old limes and chestnuts. The vista of the Pyrenees from the lower terrace ranks among the city's finest outlooks.
Viewpoints
3 places
10Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Viewpoint
Boulevard des Pyrénées
A 1.8 km promenade laid out under Napoléon III, offering exceptional panoramic views across the Pyrenees chain. On clear days, you can distinguish the Pic du Midi d'Ossau and the Pic du Midi de Bigorre.
11Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Viewpoint
Pic du Midi d'Ossau – View from Pau
On clear days from the Boulevard des Pyrénées or the castle terrace, Pic du Midi d'Ossau (2884 m) stands out with its distinctive sugar-loaf silhouette. A free spectacle that alone merits the visit.
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Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Belvédère de la Côte des Cordeliers
A viewpoint less celebrated than Boulevard des Pyrénées yet equally breathtaking, perched above the gave. At sunset, the raking light across snow-capped peaks is a spectacle the people of Pau jealously keep to themselves.
Activities
4 places
13Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Activity
Pau Funicular
One of France's last free funiculars, this charming cable car whisks you from the lower station to the upper town in 45 seconds. A practical and historic connection between the lower city and the striking Boulevard des Pyrénées.
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Activity
Activity
Stade du Hameau – Section Paloise
The historic home of Béarn rugby, where Section Paloise plays its Top 14 matches. Catching a game here immerses you in the region's rugby culture, surrounded by an enthusiastic and devoted crowd.
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Activity
Activity
Pau Circuit
One of Formula 1's oldest street circuits still in use, winding through Pau's streets since 1930. Outside Grand Prix weekends, you can walk or cycle the full circuit to experience the city's motorsport heritage.
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Activity
Activity
Pau Market – Halles de Pau
The covered market in the city centre brings together local producers, Pyrenean cheese makers and Béarnais charcutiers. Saturday mornings buzz with activity from foothill farmers and valley herders.
More to discover
2 places
17Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Place
Hédas Quarter
The former bed of the Hédas stream, cleverly repurposed as a lively street carved into the rock. Its niche bars, colourful façades and village-like atmosphere make it the favoured haunt of locals seeking something different.
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Place
Place
Rue du Moulin – Old Pau
The commercial heart of old Pau, lined with half-timbered facades and independent shops. This is where the city's trading soul lives, away from chain stores, with delis, wine merchants and artisans.
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