Jurançon Wine, vines and hillsides!

If I say Jurançon, you’re bound to say wine, but there’s more to it than that! Beyond the golden beverage, Jurançon is the name of the Pyrenean foothills south of Pau, the Jurançon hillsides. It’s also the name of the town that gives its patronymic to the famous wine. A gently rounded terroir and a land of character to discover!

Getting there

Rolling hillsides

From Pau, admire this verdant landscape at the foot of the sublime Pyrenees mountain range. The dense vegetation that covers the hills literally sheep-mills in this pastoral land.

The hillsides exude a special atmosphere: a refuge, a link between city and valley, plain and Pyrenees. Like our sun-drenched grapes, they’re all round. The roads, sometimes narrow, wind and twirl to the rhythm of an undulating landscape, from which emerge elegant residences, authentic Béarn houses and wine estates.

Vines are almost omnipresent. You’re in the Jurançon AOC region, with its high vines arranged in a veritable circus facing south and the mountains tumbling down the steep slopes. As you walk along the ridge, you’re sure to encounter sublime views of the Pic du Midi d’Ossau, the vineyards and the Pyrenees, as well as Pau below.

King's wine, King of wines

According to legend, it was Henri II of Navarre who, at the christening of his grandson Henri IV, rubbed a clove of garlic into his lips and gave him a few drops of Jurançon. This was all it took to associate the wine with the future sovereign and become part of the legend. Jurançon graces the tables of the great ceremonies of the House of France, and still graces the greatest national and international banquets today.
The town of Jurançon proudly displays its motto in large letters on the pediment of the town hall: “Bî dou Rey, rey dous bîs” (King’s wine, King of wines), proof, if proof were needed, of the royal ancestry of this golden nectar.

” When I was a teenager, I met a fiery, imperious prince, treacherous like all the great seducers: Jurançon.” Colette

Jurançon wine tasting Cave de Gan or independent producers

When you’re in a gourmet country like ours, there’s nothing like meeting people. Encounter with a landscape, with the taste of good wine, of course, but above all encounter with passionate winegrowers and winemakers who will tell you all about their terroir and its unique history!

To get to know the soul of Jurançon, you have two options:

at independent winegrowers
at the Gan cooperative winery.

Visit them along the wine route, and you’ll be greeted by people who love their land and are always full of praise and anecdotes about the royal beverage.

Jurançon

By car

You’ll only be able to do the Wine Route if you have a car. In any case, be reasonable and careful: alcohol is dangerous for your health, especially on the road! The driver doesn’t drink.

By bike

Cycling is one of the best ways to discover the countryside around Jurançon. Our cycle paths and itineraries invite you to adventure!

Hiking

Beautiful walks await you on the hillsides all year round. Each season has its own colors, smells and atmosphere. Don’t hesitate to ask us for topoguides at the Tourist Office.

Nature

Our nature is beautiful and unique. Please respect it. Don’t leave litter or cigarette butts behind. Drive cool and walk.

The wine route

It’s the best way to discover not only the vineyards and their beauty, but also Jurançon in all its variations, as told by those who bring it to life every day.

The vines are grown on south and southeast-facing slopes at altitudes of 300-400m. They benefit from the balance between rainfall and mild temperatures, thanks to the warm Foehn (Balaguera) wind. Grown on hillsides and slopes, they are harvested by hand.

From Jurançon to Monein, passing through Lacommande and right up to the gates of Oloron-Sainte-Marie, the Jurançon AOC, its 1,200 hectares and some 360 winegrowers will have something to satisfy even the most demanding gourmets… in moderation, of course!

Good addresses

Cavedupalais Armagnac Pau Pyrenees Tourisme Paul Louis

Extend your journey Discover other wines

Jurançon is one of Pau’s most local products, but the Pyrenean foothills also produce other quality wines:

Madiran, a red wine with vineyards in the Gers, Pyrénées Atlantiques and Hautes Pyrénées. This powerful, full-bodied wine is the perfect accompaniment to the local gestornomie of duck and pork!
Pacherenc, on the same territory as Madiran, offers dry white wines, sweet wines and even late-harvest sweet wines.
And although Armagnac is distilled from wine by our close neighbors, it’s sometimes served here too!