Amble slowly along roads lined with gently swaying trees and sit in a café overlooking snow-dusted mountains in Pau. Walk through the halls of castles laden with history and view paintings by some of Europe’s finest artisans.
Stand in the morning sun overlooking the river on the Boulevard des Pyrénées and note the dramatic clash between the lush palm trees overhead and the colossal Pyrenees Mountains standing silently in the distance. Enjoy superb French coffee and pastries in roadside cafés while you plan your day.
The perfect place to begin is at Pau Castle in the town centre. Wander the tranquil gardens of this grand building and notice the contrasting faces of the exterior. The difference in architecture is due to the various building and restoration projects, which took place before and after the Renaissance. Don’t miss the west wing, which has one of the largest collections of tapestries in France.
From here head north to the Hedas quarter, one of the city’s oldest districts, to look inside the Bernadotte Museum. This is the former home of Jean Baptiste Bernadotte who not only fought for France under Napoleon but was also a hero in Sweden where he was given the throne in 1810. Discover more about this extraordinary man in a traditional Béarnais house that has remained unchanged since he left.
Walk east to the Musée des Beaux-Arts. The walls here are adorned with a range of works including masterpieces by Rubens and Degas. A short walk south will lead you to the spectacular Beaumont Palace with a neoclassical façade that is reflected wonderfully in a large pond.
Pau is a luxurious place with hotels to suit all tastes and budgets. Eat superb French food and enjoy evenings in artistically decorated bars. The city is in southwestern France, a 1-hour drive east of the Atlantic coast city of Biarritz.
Fine art and an enthralling history await among the scenery of the French Pyrenees in Pau.
