Pau royal city Henri IV of France and Charles XIV of Sweden

Pau and royalty have a long history. Henri IV, King of France, everyone knows… but the King of Sweden is a surprise! Henri IV (1553-1610) was born in Pau: he was King of Navarre before becoming King of France. Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, a young man from Béarn who joined Napoleon’s army at the age of 17, succeeded King Charles XIII in 1818 and became Charles XIV. And so it is that the descendants of a modest man from Pau still reign in Stockholm. When we tell you that Pau is royal!

Getting there

Heir to the Kingdom of Navarre

Henri de Bourbon, future King of France and Navarre, was born in the Château de Pau on December 13, 1553. Son of Jeanne d’Albret, future Queen of Navarre, and Antoine de Bourbon, prince of the French bloodline, he grew up in Béarn, 15 km from Pau, until the age of 8. He lived in a society in the midst of a religious war, where Catholics and Protestants clashed constantly. Raised as a Protestant, Henri de Bourbon was a Protestant leader when, in 1572, he succeeded his mother Jeanne d’Albret. He became King of Navarre under the name Henri III.

Discover the castle district

Surprising cradle

Her first cradle is said to have been a turtle shell, a symbol of strength and longevity. It is on display at the Musée National du Château de Pau, along with the tapestry collections of the Manufacture des Gobelins and the famous Table aux cent couverts. For health and good taste, her grandfather Henri II de Navarre (Henri d’Albret) rubbed her lips with a clove of garlic before moistening them with Jurançon. The perfect way to start life on the right foot!

“The satisfaction we derive from vengeance lasts only a moment: that which clemency gives us is eternal.” Henri IV, King of France and Navarre

Catholic or Protestant Henri's choice

On August 18, 1572, he married Marguerite de Valois, “Reine Margot”, sister of the French king Charles IX, in Paris. The marriage was intended to reconcile Catholics and Protestants, but did not prevent the massacre of Protestants in Paris on St. Bartholomew’s Day (August 24, 1572). Henri III of Navarre forcibly converted to Catholicism and returned to Protestantism in 1576. His religious changes were dictated by the interests of the moment.

On the death of Henri III, King of France (August 2, 1589), Henri of Navarre became Henri IV, the first French king of the Bourbon branch. He was crowned King of France in 1594 and declared war on Spain.

1598, peace at last: Henri IV signs the Edict of Nantes and a peace treaty with Spain.

“And if God still gives me life, I’ll make sure there won’t be a ploughman in my kingdom who can’t afford to have a hen in his pot”.

Inheritance

Numerous signs of the past are scattered throughout the city… Keep an eye out for them!

With children

Fun and learning: the Château and Bernadotte museums are a great way to get kids interested in history. Ask for the program at the Tourist Office.

When it rains

A visit to the chateau and the Bernadotte house are ideal when it’s raining. Well sheltered, you won’t miss a beat!

Tickets

Come to the Tourist Office! Not only will you be able to pick up your tickets there, but we’ll give you all the ideas and tips you need to make the most of your visit to Pau!

The good King Henri IV

France enjoys a degree of economic prosperity. Henri IV helped further French settlement in America. In 1600, he married Marie de Médicis, following the annulment of his marriage to Marguerite de Valois, which had failed to produce an heir. Among the children of this new union was the future Louis XIII.

Discover the museum

Jean Baptiste Bernadotte A Bearnais, King of Sweden

Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, born in Pau in 1763, was elected Prince Royal of Sweden by the Swedish Parliament in 1810. He became a private soldier in 1780, Brigadier General under Bonaparte and later Marshal of the Empire. He succeeded King Charles XIII in 1818. And so, the descendants of a modest man from Pau still reign in Stockholm.

The Bernadotte Museum retraces this epic in the house where he was born. Its façade of pebbles, bricks and dressed stone, and its wooden galleries overlooking the courtyard, are typical of a modest 18th-century house in Palais. It is listed as a Historic Monument.

Good to know: The Bernadotte Museum is currently closed for renovation.

Don't miss a thing History always...

A thousand faces in Pau

Meeting and sharing

A legacy of resort spirit

Pau, the city landscape