Castle district Impregnable fortress and royal castle

Emblematic and inseparable from the history of Pau, unchanging and reassuring, the Château de Pau dominates the Gave de Pau and faces the Pyrenees. First an impregnable defense, then the residence of the Kings of Navarre, it is now known as the birthplace of Henri IV. But its walls resonate with 1,000 years of history that will whisper in your ear as you visit. Château de Pau is also an estate, an immense park with trees over a hundred years old. The castle district takes you back to the rich past of the Béarn capital of the Viscounts of Foix and Béarn, Gaston Fébus, Jeanne d’Albret and the Kings of Navarre.

Getting there

A chateau fit for a king

The birthplace of King Henri IV, the Château de Pau was the heart of Pau’s power district. But it already had a long history.

From a simple fortification in the 10th century, it became a castle in the 12th! The Viscounts of Béarn gradually enlarged and strengthened it. Gaston Fébus, Count of Foix and Viscount of Béarn, transformed it into an impregnable citadel in the 14th century.

Remodeled and fortified, it became a royal castle when, as a result of Gaston IV’s marriage to Eléonore de Navarre (heir to the kingdom), their grandson-François Fébus acceded to the throne of Navarre in 1480.

The Renaissance brought its share of innovations to the chateau, under the influence of Henri II d’Albret and Marguerite d’Angoulême (sister of François I).

By 1553, it was a château worthy of a king of France and Navarre, when Henri III of Navarre was born, before becoming Henri IV, king of France and Navarre.

The Castle Museum

The richness of the decor and the beauty of the immense rooms will leave no one indifferent. The Musée du Chateau offers guided tours of its magnificent collections. Sumptuous tapestries, unique paintings, rare books and precious furnishings take their place in a place preserved from the ravages of time. A journey into the past from which you’ll emerge with your eyes and mind happy and satiated…

Book

“Febus me fe” (Fébus made me). This motto, inscribed on the walls of the Château de Pau, is that of Gaston Fébus (1331-1391). A powerful, wise and cultured prince, the Comte Soleil ushered in a rich period of development for Béarn.

Le domaine du Chateau

Gaston Fébus’s “jardin du Midi” in the 15th century already stood out for its beauty. But it was in the 16th century that Antoine de Bourbon and Jeanne d’Albret gave their full measure to the parks and gardens of the Chateau, inspiring Henri IV to create his own gardens in the Ile de France.

The royal estate of Pau was embellished over the years and was the object of all the attentions of the kings of Navarre:

Le Petit Jardin for strolling around the château, with its arbour and covered gallery;
Le Jardin du Bas, with pruned trees that are veritable works of topiary art;
Le Jardin du Haut, orchards criss-crossed by canals and fishponds that surround the Chateau;
The walled Petit Parc, where the “allée de Madame”, a beautiful sandy alley lined with elm trees, leads to the Castet Béziat, a one-storey pavilion built by Jeanne d’Albret.

They have enchanted visitors over the centuries, who have left traces of them in their writings:

In 1418, Sire de Caumont describes the Château de Pau as a “beautiful garden” with “a beautiful fountain”.
1598 Jacques Esprinchart, a student from La Rochelle who toured Europe, saw “the most beautiful [he had seen] anywhere in Europe”.
1644: a visitor speaks of a “considerable garden”, with “prodigious trees”…

Today, the 22-hectare national estate is Pau’s green lung, where people love to stroll!

Strolling through the gardens

In the family

Immerse the whole family in history: it’s shiny, it’s beautiful, it’s full of amusing anecdotes, and afterwards you can go for a run in the park’s alleys. Parents and children alike should love this visit!

When it rains

It’s the perfect visit to plan, whether the weather is grey or hot . The castle’s gleaming gilt will bring sunshine to your heart, and the constant temperature will refresh your spirits!

Car-free

The Château district is pedestrianized. Park in the municipal parking lots, before coming to discover the castle!

Nature in the city

Take time out for a stroll around the château grounds. Don’t forget your picnic, so the kids can let off steam and you can take a nature break before heading back up the Boulevard des Pyrénées !

The Parliament of Navarre

Béarn has long been an independent state, with its own institutions, the “States of Béarn”, attached to the kingdom of Navarre. They had their own laws. In 1620, they were attached to the crown of France, and the States of Béarn became the Parliament of Navarre, “seant à Pau” in 1620, symbolizing Béarn’s attachment to the crown of France. The Kings of France became Kings of France and Navarre.

When the Parliament was dissolved in 1789, the building continued to house the administration of justice until 1856. It has had many different uses, and today houses the assemblies of the Conseil départemental des Pyrénées Atlantique.

The castle district

The Chateau district is an attractive pedestrian zone, with half-timbered houses and cobbled streets that recreate a medieval atmosphere. Between the Hédas and the Boulevard des Pyrénées, it overlooks the Gave de Pau and the Monnaie district: the top of the Tour de la Monnaie stands at the level of the château gardens.

You’ll love strolling through this historic district, with its terraces, tea rooms, restaurants and small boutiques.