What is there to see in Navarrenx on a day trip?

You can walk along the ramparts, explore the Saint-Antoine Gate, the bastions, the arsenal and the powder magazine, and then take a stroll through the old town.

Why is Navarrenx a fortified town?

Navarrenx was fortified in the 16th century to defend the Béarn region. Its ramparts, bastions and military defences still bear witness to this strategic role.

Is it possible to walk all the way round the ramparts of Navarrenx?

Yes. A walking route takes you along much of the ramparts, allowing you to see the main defensive features, as well as offering views of the Gave d’Oloron.

Were the ramparts of Navarrenx built by Vauban?

No. The fortifications at Navarrenx date from the 16th century and predate Vauban. They are modelled on the bastion-style fortifications developed in Italy.

Is Navarrenx on the Way of St James?

Yes. Navarrenx is a stop on the route from Le Puy-en-Velay to Santiago de Compostela and still welcomes many pilgrims today.

Is Navarrenx a good place to visit with children?

Yes. The walk along the ramparts and the tour of the gates, bastions and military buildings make for an accessible visit. Please take care when near the higher sections.

How do I get to Navarrenx from Pau?

Navarrenx is situated about 40 kilometres west of Pau. The car remains the most direct way to reach the town and explore the surrounding area.

Navarrenx Land of the Musketeers

Situated on the Way of St James, this pretty town in Béarn has been awarded the title of ‘one of the most beautiful villages in France’ and is well worth a visit to explore its ramparts, which predate Vauban’s fortifications. But these are not its only claims to fame: Navarrenx was the birthplace of several Cadets of Gascony, whose names were made famous by Alexandre Dumas! It is also the capital of salmon, which is caught in the Gave d’Oloron. There’s no shortage of good reasons to pay a visit to Navarrenx for a day trip.

Getting there

©
Navarrenx Porte Saint Antoine Pays De Bearn Adrien Basse Cathalinat
|
Pays de Béarn / Adrien Base-Cathalinat

Bastion town

This charming bastide is a village brimming with charm and full of life. It offers its ramparts, military fountain and underground passages for history enthusiasts to explore. Its square, framed by arcades, is a perfect example of the bastides of the South-West. Around the square, the shops, cafés and restaurants offer a cool retreat during the hottest part of the day, or on the bustling market days.

Situated between France and Spain, it was the country’s first fortified town: its fortifications were built in 1538, nearly a century before Vauban’s time. It resembles Vauban’s style but is actually the work of an Italian architect, Fabricio Siciliano. Thanks to him, it remained under the rule of the kings of Navarre and later of France. In Navarrenx, in 1620, Louis XIII re-established the Catholic faith and incorporated Béarn into France.

Even today, it remains a lovely haven of peace near the Gave d’Oloron.

One for all, all for one

The King’s Musketeers from Alexandre Dumas’s novel really did exist. Their home regions were situated around Navarrenx. Isaac de Portau was d’Artagnan’s Porthos, Henri d’Aramitz was Aramis, and Armand de Sillègue d’Hauteville was Athos. These three lords from Béarn, all skilled fencers, served in the Count of Tréville’s company of the King’s Musketeers. Porthos was even the city’s armourer!

The rest is part of the novel, in which the author did not hesitate to take a few liberties with the historical facts!

Paul de Batz de Castelmore d’Artagnan, the elder brother of Charles de Batz – whose memoirs inspired the character of d’Artagnan – was governor of Navarrenx from 1667 until his death in 1703. Like his famous brother, he was a Musketeer of the King!

The salmon capital

Salmon, returning from the cold waters of the Arctic, are particularly fond of the waters of the Pyrenean mountain streams. So much so that, in 1950, the first world salmon fishing championship was held in Navarrenx.

The stock is now protected, but anglers enjoy testing their skills against the ‘king of the mountain streams’, whose melt-in-the-mouth flesh is prized by gourmets.

By car

You’ll need to drive from Pau to Navarrenx. Allow about 50 minutes’ drive via the D2.

By motorhome

Navarrenx is the perfect stop-off on your road trip through the Béarn region. There’s a car park in the town centre.

Tourist Office

Pop intothe Béarn des Gaves Tourist Office to get some advice and top tips!

Walks and hikes

Now’s the time to go for a few walks in the great outdoors! Navarrenx is a stop-off point on the route to Santiago de Compostela: follow the trail…

On the Gave d’Oloron

The Gave d’Oloron is fed by the waters of the Gaves d’Aspe and d’Ossau, which flow down from the mountains. Its winding course and cool waters make it a paradise for water sports enthusiasts! If you’re spending the day in Navarrenx, why not make the most of it by going rafting or canoeing down the Gave d’Oloron? It’s another way to appreciate the beauty of Béarn.