Planning your next vacation in the Pyrenees? Find out more about the Pyrénées-Atlantiques and where to stay in Pau!
Situated on the axis between the Atlantic, Toulouse and the Mediterranean Sea, and 25 kilometers from the foothills of the Pyrenees massif, Pau has been the capital of the Béarn region since 1464 and is the Prefecture of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques département. Irrigated by the Gave de Pau river, the town lies just 50 kilometers from the Spanish border, offering a unique panorama of the Pyrenees mountain range and Jurançon vineyards. Founded in the 12th century, the town has been occupied since Gallo-Roman times, and developed around its castle – the birthplace of King Henri IV of France – first built in the 10th century. Seat of the Kingdom of Navarre in the 16th century, Pau was a leading political, intellectual and cultural center in the early 16th century. A wealthy aristocratic city that attracted British, Russian, Spanish and American investors during the Belle Époque, Pau became a world capital for aeronautics and petrochemicals.
Today, the city has a population of 78,000, and 200,000 in the urban area. Are you coming to stay in Pau for work or vacation? Discover with us the mini-guide to where to stay in Pau!
Downtown
Pau’s city center covers several mini-neighborhoods, including the Chateau, Hédas, Halles, Triangle and Paul-Doumer.
Several historic monuments dot the historic center, including the Château de Pau – and the statue of Fébus, with its view of the Pyrenees – which dominates the Gave River. If you love religious buildings, take a look inside the churches of Saint-Martin and Saint-Jacques, both built in the 1860s. Visit one of the many restaurants in the town center for a taste of Béarn gastronomy and local produce – poule au pot, garbure, Bayonne ham, Pyrenean cheese, Jurançon wines – then take advantage of the museums (if you like culture): the Château de Pau National Museum, the Bernadotte Museum, the Resistance and Deportation Memorial, and the Fine Arts Museum. For a stroll, head for the Parc du Casino de Pau, east of the city center.
80% of accommodation in Pau is in apartments, but there are of course hotels in all ranges of comfort. The center of town is the best place to stay in Pau.
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XIV July
Bordered by the left bank of the Gave and the area surrounding the château’s parks on the right bank, the XIV Juillet district straddles the border between Pau and Jurançon. Historically an industrial and working-class district, it now enjoys a small degree of neighborhood life, and is a popular choice for housing in Pau, even though the population has suffered severe social consequences as a result of deindustrialization and relocation.
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Trespoey
Trespoey, to the east of the city center, is Pau’s affluent district. It’s home to bourgeois villas built during the Belle Époque: a popular area for wealthy winter visitors. Along a ridge line overlooking the Gave River, you can admire a breathtaking view of the majestic Pyrenees mountain range. It’s within easy reach of the city center, the Casino de Pau and its green area. Rents are likely to be higher, however, due to the sociology of the residents.
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Pau Nord
Photo credit: Wikipedia – Daxipedia
Choose to stay in Pau Nord if you’re more of an athlete and don’t care for the historic monuments of the city center: the district, bordered by theA64 motorway to Bayonne and Toulouse, is packed with sports and cultural facilities: thePont-Long racecourse, the Palais des Sports and the pelota complex. For concert-goers, Pau’s Zénith is located between the Palais des Sports and the racecourse. Staying in Pau Nord will bring you into contact with a population of young students: this is the university campus district.
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Map of hotels and accommodation – Pau,fr