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

You can stroll around the main square and its arcades, visit the Maison Carrée, explore Saint-Vincent Church and round off the day with a visit to the Beret Museum.

Why is Nay known as a ‘bastide’?

Nay was founded as a bastide in the early 14th century. Its grid-pattern layout, central square and well-organised streets still bear witness to its medieval origins.

Which monuments are worth visiting in the centre of Nay?

The Maison Carrée, Saint-Vincent Church, the central square and the old streets of the bastide are among the main attractions in the historic centre.

What can you see at the Beret Museum in Nay?

The museum showcases the history of beret-making, the craft’s traditional techniques and the role of this industry in the local industrial heritage.

When does the Nay market take place?

The main market is held on Tuesday mornings. There is another market on Saturdays. Please check the opening times before you go.

Is it easy to visit Nay with children?

Yes. The centre is easy to explore on foot, as the distances are short. Heritage trails and fun activities also help to keep children engaged.

How can you explore Nay’s industrial heritage?

The Beret Museum and the old neighbourhoods linked to the textile industry offer an insight into the town’s industrial past, particularly that of the spinning mills and workshops.

Nay The mountain stream and the beret!

A typical country house, a mountain stream that looks like a torrent, a colourful market, a beret museum? You’re in Nay, half an hour from Pau. On the way to the Betharram caves, this charming village is full of unexpected treasures that you’ll discover if you take the time to wander around. It’s also an ideal spot for enjoying white-water sports in a natural setting. Founded in the 14th century, it capitalised on its strategic location on the Gave at the foot of the mountains to become a trading hub, then an industrial town with its flour mill and textile industry. Today, this quiet little town regains its former vibrancy on market days.

Getting there

A country house near the Gave

Around the beautiful square in Nay, the arcades provide shade and a cool respite for passers-by: it is a classic example of the bastides of the South-West. The modest village, founded in 1302 by Marguerite de Montcade, Viscountess of Béarn, marks the entrance to the Ossau Valley: it was the crossing point on the international route of the time between Spain, Navarre and France. This location ensured the prosperity of the town of Nay at the time.

The market halls and the town hall form the heart of the town, whilst the ‘garlantes’ – the open arcades – provide a home for the merchants. With the establishment of the bastide, these would become the source of Nay’s wealth. The textile industry flourished thanks to the mills on the Gave, and Henry II of Navarre set up a royal cloth-manufacturing and dyeing works there.

In the 19th century, Nay produced berets, knitwear and wool from the Pyrenees, as well as linen from the Béarn and the Basque Country!

Many traces of this flourishing era remain, which you’ll discover as you stroll through the town.

Discover

Flour mill and gallery

The former flour mill is now home to a contemporary art gallery where you can discover a wide range of artists. Sculptures, paintings, photographs… all forms of art are represented here, in a setting that is well worth a look in its own right. An unexpected visit to a vast space where you can hire artworks to take home and display in your own home!

Find out more

In the central square stands the Maison Carrée. This beautiful 16th-century Renaissance-style mansion houses the Museum of Industry and hosts temporary exhibitions.

St Vincent’s Church

Do take the time to step inside Saint-Vincent Church. Situated slightly off the main road, it was built in the 15th and 16th centuries, following the typical Languedoc church design, with a wide central nave and no side aisles. It has suffered many setbacks, including the collapse of its bell tower, but the bell that still rings today dates from 1245. The seven-lobed star-shaped vault of the chancel is impressive. The numerous arches provide greater stability for this large vault.

The beautiful Baroque organ by Gérard Bunel (1653) was restored in 2006: it can regularly be heard during concerts held in the church.

Find out more

By car

From Pau, take the road to Lourdes and you’ll be in Nay in under 30 minutes. You can also choose to travel by train. From Pau, a TER train will take you from Pau to Coarraze–Nay station in 40 minutes.

By motorhome

There are several sites where you can explore the Nay region in a motorhome.

Tourist Office

Pop intothe Nay Tourist Office, where you’ll find some useful tips and ideas for things to see and do to ensure you have a great stay.

Walks and hikes

Nay is a lovely destination for nature lovers: do take the time to explore the area on foot or by bike.

The beret Basque or Béarnais?

In the former beret factory in Nay, the beret has its own museum.

Because the famous Basque beret actually comes from Béarn! It was the shepherds of Béarn who invented it, using wool from their sheep to protect themselves from the bad weather in the mountain pastures by soaking it in the water of the mountain streams and then stretching it out on their knees… A good beret has it all: waterproof, breathable and hard-wearing, easy to wear and carry, it’s incredibly versatile.

Practical, the famous beret became popular in the 20th century thanks to sailors and the Béarn and Basque diaspora, who took it as far as the ‘Americas’. Little by little, it began to appear on everyone’s heads: Che Guevara, Marilyn Monroe, Michèle Morgan, Dizzy Gillespie and John Lennon all wore it with pride!

A visit to the world’s only museum dedicated to this headwear is a must, to find out everything about this iconic item that has become a fashion accessory among leading fashion designers!

Discover the museum

Around Nay

White-water enthusiasts, here the Gave de Pau reveals its nature as a wild torrent, and you’ll love the thrill of riding the churning rapids!

Once in Nay, don’t miss the Betharram Caves: this geological wonder, unique in the world, will impress young and old alike. Five levels, 80 metres deep and an underground river running between the Pyrénées-Atlantiques and the Hautes-Pyrénées. An absolute must-see!