Ideally located halfway between the sea and the mountains, at the heart of Pyrénées-Atlantiques, the historic capital of Béarn invites you to discover its many treasures!
An emblematic monument of the city, Pau Castle was in turn a fortress of the Viscounts of Béarn, a castle fort under Gaston Phoebus and a royal residence in the Renaissance. It is famous for being the birthplace of Henry IV, King of France and Navarre, in 1553. Now converted into a national museum, this majestic building is a listed Historic Monument and houses an impressive collection of Flanders and Gobelins tapestries from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries! The prestigious "room of a hundred covers" and its immense oak table, the King's chamber and his tortoiseshell crib, and the apartment of the Empress Eugenie, with its delicate Sèvres porcelain, turn a visit here into an unforgettable journey through time. Pau Castle also has a landscaped park with wonderful Renaissance gardens, ideal for a leisurely stroll... A haven of tranquillity where you can enjoy a short break before continuing with your exploration of the medieval side streets in the historic city centre.
Then head to the lovely Beaumont Park with its beautiful trees, and be sure to go via the unmissable Boulevard des Pyrénées. A real panoramic balcony, this 1,800 metre-long walk offers wonderful views of the Pyrenees mountaintops in fine weather...Splendid!
When you arrive at Pau, human capital, you will be enchanted by this exceptional panoramic view of the Pyrenees. The Béarn capital offers a unique route through parks and gardens on Pyrenean backgrounds. Climbing up the famous Boulevard des Pyrénées offers the opportunity to discover places of relaxation and history. A heritage from the 19th century English period, Beaumont Park is a green setting that now houses the magnificent Beaumont Palace, a historic convention center. Very quickly, you are in the heart of a dynamic city center, totally renewed, notably with the Hédas district, a pretty walk bordered by vegetation and playful facilities. A night visit is a must!
And then, we do not forget the first golf course of the continent 1856, the 2nd most important equine training center, its whitewater stadium unique in France for aquatic activities on the banks of the river Le Gave de Pau, its Museum of Fine Arts… and its gastronomy with the many restaurants and the brand new Pau hall, a colorful daily market.
A symbol? It would certainly be the birth of the most beloved king of the French, Henri IV, who was born in 1553 in the magnificent castle of Pau…
Today, a new wind is blowing in the capital of Béarn! A creative, cultural, economic and sporting impetus takes hold of the royal city. This dynamic territory, where life is good, is becoming one of the most attractive in France!
Many major events throughout the year:
- Horse racing Grand Prix in January.
- Béarnais Carnival in February.
- Historic and Modern Automobile Grand Prix in May.
- Tour de France.
- Free Summer Concerts at Pau in July.
- Street Arts Festival and Hestiv'Oc Festival in August.
- Pau Stars (CCI Riding *****) in October.
- Literary Encounters Ideas Lead the World in November.
- Festival of lights and its Christmas market in December...
Les Rendez-Vous des Patrimoines - Avril à Juin 2024
- From 1 april to 30 june 2024
- Place Royale
- Events, meetings, conferences, tours and urban walks from April to June 2024.
Exposition: Passage
- From 11 april to 15 june 2024
- 18 Rue Carnot, Passage Carnot
- An immersive journey through photography and other visual poetry. - Patrice Martins de Barros - Emma Atlani - Rmi Quaghebeur - Plant Gold
Exposition de Jean-Michel Fauquet
- From 12 april to 13 july 2024
- 2 Avenue Louis Sallenave, Espace Culturel E.Leclerc
- Jean-Michel Fauquet's exhibition at Le Parvis is, without a doubt, this spring's not-to-be-missed photo event. - An unclassifiable artist, Jean-Michel Fauquet is a solitary figure who strives to bring an imaginary world out of obscurity. His work never ceases to captivate with its obstinate research into the human being and the shadows that haunt him. - In so doing, he constructs a theater of the imaginary for which signs and representations are so many appeals likely to make sense in the mind of the beholder. - Le Parvis will present a large corpus of works by this artist, whose work is the result of very distinct procedures ranging from drawing to sculpture, and giving rise to photographs akin to prints.
Exposition: Florence de Faucompret
- From 29 april to 5 july 2024
- 19 Rue Bourbaki, Espace Dantza
- Originally from the Minervois region, Florence de Faucompret spent her childhood alternating between this vineyard region and the Pyrenees. This explains her attraction to the mountains and the ocean, which call her to paint, photograph, declaim or dance… - Throughout her career, this artist has been involved in a wide variety of arts, depending on the artistic encounters she has had. In painting, it was her master Henri Gougis of "L'Art pour l'Art" who taught her everything, especially the subtle blending of colors. She continues to perfect her skills at the "Le Seuil de l ? Art" workshop in Pau. - Florence paints from visual supports in search of color harmony. She is not interested in copying reality : she prefers to photograph the fleeting moment and then let her imagination of the moment make her brush dance on the canvas and write the lines of a beautiful poem.
Mai aux Halles et Carnot
- From 1 to 31 may 2024
- 8 rue Carnot
- On the program at Les Halles this month : Fête de l'Europe, After-work, Nocturne, Brocante des Halles, Flamme Olympique.
Exposition des Cent Matières
- From 1 to 29 may 2024
- 6 Rue Palassou, Art-T LOCUS
- May 1 sees the opening of an exhibition at ART-T LOCUS, a cultural and wellness center run by Irina Moldoveanu and Dario Siragusa. This is a pictorial exhibition in which each painting and sculpture offers a play of textures for your gaze. - Mathilde Lanusse will be at the studio from Monday to Saturday, from 12pm to 7.30pm. - Different themes will inspire you, perhaps, by observing the works on display ? - Come and meet us on May 28, to close and celebrate the end of the cent matières exhibition, over - With a bite to eat and a drink at the unveiling.
Pau l'Agglo et Nous - Mai 2024
- From 1 to 31 may 2024
- Discover the program for the beautiful month of May
Programme de l'Espace de Rencontre du Foirail
- From 1 to 31 may 2024
- 45 Rue Carnot, Espace de rencontre du Foirail
- Monthly program of the Foirail meeting space
Les Rencontres du Parvis Mai Juin Juillet 2024
- From 1 may to 31 july 2024
- Centre Leclerc - Espace Culturel, av Louis Sallenave
- March and April programme at Le Parvis
Eka - Exposition "Tropiques"
- From 2 to 31 may 2024
- 2 Rue du Château, Danser sous la plume
- Danser sous la plume, the bookshop and tea room, invites you to travel and discover the paintings of artist EKA, on the occasion of the "Tropiques" exhibition. - Through her portraits and colorful universe, EKA offers a warm yet melancholy vision of the tropics.