Pau is not especially close to the coast so it is not what you would call a beach holiday destination. However, it does benefit from the Pyrenean mountain range which overlooks it, where opportunities for hiking and skiing abound. The scenic rural areas outside of the city are ideal for camping, while the various parks and gardens available offer respite from the urban jungle without the need for extensive travel.
Camping
Families can head for the organised facilities of campsites such as Le Terrier or Les Sapins, at which they can either pitch their own tent or rent one for the night. The alternative - if you want an authentic getting back to nature feeling - is to head for somewhere off the beaten track where you can sleep under canvas with only the local wildlife for company. Wherever you camp, be sure that it’s not on private land and that your valuables are safe.
Golf
Golf lovers will delight in the knowledge that the Aquitaine region is home to a total of 60 golf clubs, providing plenty of opportunities to get in a round or two during a holiday. The closest facility to the city is the appropriately named Pau Golf Club, a course famous for being the oldest in Europe, having been built by and for the British Army in 1856.
Hiking
If you own a sturdy pair of boots and are good with a map and compass then there are some excellent opportunities for challenging walks in the natural areas surrounding the city. Terrain is mixed, and conditions vary depending on the weather.
Parks and Gardens
Pau is home to over 750 hectares of public greenbelt spaces as well as a large selection of private gardens, giving visitors countless opportunities to stretch their legs and enjoy a leisurely stroll through pleasant natural surroundings. Activities such as cycling and jogging, as well as popular sports can be enjoyed at most public settings.
Skiing
You’ll need to travel for a minimum of 30 minutes from Pau to get to an area suitable for skiing, but if you rent a car during your Pau holiday you can make easy work of the distance between the city and ski resorts such as Gourette, 23 miles away (38kms), Cauterets, 30 miles away (51kms) and Luz Ardiden, 33 miles away (53kms).
Zoo d'Asson
A short drive from Pau to the town of Asson brings you to this popular visitor attraction located in a scenic setting at the base of the Pyrenees mountains. The zoo is home to over 500 mammals and rare birds collected from across the globe. With over 100 different species represented, the zoo offers a detailed picture of wildlife in a global capacity. Phone +33 5 59 71 03 34.
Pau’s cultural scene is a mixed bag so visitors are unlikely to get bored here easily or struggle to find a venue that caters to their interests. Topics such as art, history, cuisine and fine wine are among those represented, and the highlight is the Museum of Fine Arts, with its impressive array of European artwork.
Art and Culture Museum of Lascar
Take a trip to Lescar, on the outskirts of Pau, to see this impressive museum and its collection of artefacts illustrating various aspects of local history. Archaeological pieces from 3,000-plus ago are among the highlights of the collection, while equally interesting are the items of furniture retrieved from the site that once housed the Gallo-Roman estate known as the Saint-Michel villa. The museum also features visiting modern arts exhibitions. Phone: +33 5 59 81 06 18.
Bernadotte Museum
An original 18th century Bearnese property, in which the French soldier Jean-Baptiste Jules Bernadotte was born, houses this historically themed museum. The life of this individual is the focus of the museum, and through various exhibits visitors can learn how a humble soldier who fought alongside Napoleon went on to become the Marshal of the Empire. Phone: +33 5 59 27 48 42.
Foie Gras Museum (Musée-Boutique du Foie Gras)
One of France’s most prized delicacies is celebrated at this modest, but fascinating museum based in a working food production facility with a reputation as being one of the finest of its ilk in the area. Visitors get to learn about a variety of aspects of Bearn cuisine as well as of course, the processes involved in producing the famous delectable offal-based creation. Phone: +33 5 59 61 90 91.
Museum of Fine Arts of Pau (Musée des Beaux-Arts de Pau)
Housed in a traditional 1930s building, the Museum of Fine Arts features an impressive selection of works, among which are a number of masterpieces from both French and European artists. A New Orleans Cotton Office by Degas is one of the most prized pieces on show, while other notable works include those by Rubens, Morisot, Giordano, Fantin-Latour, Le Greco, Flandrin, Lhote and Marquet. The museum is the second largest of its kind in the Aquaitane region. Phone: +33 5 59 27 33 02.
Wineries
There are several wineries worth visiting around the city, with the Jurançon vineyards being one of the best known and most reputable. If you are fond of a glass or two of a quality vintage then head south of the city to this famous wine producer to sample a wine that back in 1553 was proclaimed the ‘wine of the king and the king of wines’. Phone: + 33 5 59 21 57 03.
The local cuisine is distinct and while it’s often referred to simply as Bearnese cuisine, it is in fact a combination of several different influences, including those of Bigourdane, Landaise, Pyrenean and Occitane. Meat and dairy products feature heavily in the local dishes (pork and cheese specifically) as well as fresh locally grown herbs and vegetables. The city’s signature dish is a chicken and vegetable stew known as la poulé au pot, which was created in the 16th century by Henry IV.
Pau has plenty of restaurants to choose from (around 170), with everything from quiet back street eateries frequented mainly by the locals to upmarket establishments catering to tourists. The Chateau area is one of the best places to visit to find a good dining spot. Here, besides a good selection of traditional French restaurants, visitors will find Indian, Chinese, Thai and Italian restaurants, to name but a few.
Shopping enthusiasts wanting to take home goods that are typical of the city should look at purchasing a bottle or two of locally produced wine. Wine can be picked up on visits to wineries or from any good wine shop in the city centre. Chocolate is the other famous local product, and the local sweet creations are popularly considered to be among the finest on the planet so be sure to pick up a bar or box or two if you have a sweet tooth.
The Chateau district is pedestrianised and home to some of the best shopping outlets, while rue Samonzet, rue Serviez, rue Cordeliers and Bosquet Avenue also provide a good selection of retailers. For the upmarket shopping scene, head for rue Henry IV, rue Joffre, rue Latapie and rue Barthou. In Lescar, the Quartier Libre shopping centre is home to 55 boutiques laid out around a picturesque tropical garden.
