Our must-haves Don't miss a thing at Pau Pyrénées

The story of a simple hunting lodge, fortified with wooden stakes to become a stronghold, is the origin of the town’s name: “Pau” (pieu in Béarnais). From the top of its promontory, you can look back over 10 centuries! Each historical movement has added its own architectural touch, enriched its collections and embellished its parks and gardens. But what we like to remember most of all is the happy event of a December evening in 1553, when a certain Henri III of Navarre, future King Henri IV, was born under the castle’s golden roof. His royal turtle-shell cradle can still be seen when you visit the château! Remarkably well-maintained, in its green setting, the venerable residence still dominates the town and the Gave, facing the majestic Pyrenees. So, as you may have guessed, the jewel in our crown is the château!

Just a few minutes from Pau, Lescar. An ancient city perched on a hill, it dominates the plain and offers a prime view of the Pyrenees mountain range. The vibrant heart of the fortified town is the Cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption, a masterpiece of Romanesque art housing the tombs of the Kings of Navarre. But what you may not know is that the ancient town of Lescar, Bénéharnum, is the origin of the name of our beautiful country: Béarn. Ideally positioned on the route to Santiago de Compostela, the ancient episcopal city is a comforting stopover on the Via Tolosa, before tackling the steeper, steeper roads and valleys of the Pyrenean ascent. Whether you’re a history buff, a lover of fine stonework, of pretty tales and legends, or a lover of the open road, Lescar is the place to be!