Pau Travel Guide
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768km (477 miles) SW of Paris,196km (122 miles) SW of Toulouse
High above the banks of the Gave de Pau River, this year-round resort is a good place to pause in your trek through the Pyrénées. The British discovered Pau in the early 19th century, launching such practices as fox hunting, a custom that lingers. Even if you're just passing through, follow boulevard des Pyrénées, an esplanade erected on Napoléon's orders, for a famous panoramic view.
Pau is the most cosmopolitan city in the western Pyrénées, the capital of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques département. It was once the capital of the Béarn region, the land of the kings of Navarre, the most famous and beloved of whom was Henri IV. Its population of approximately 84,000 still observes some English traditions, such as afternoon tea. At one time the English formed 15% of the population.
