Chateau de Henri IV, Pau
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Château de Pau - by Philippe on Google
Description
The Château de Pau (Pau Castle) was founded in the Middle Ages as a fortified military structure on top of the hill overlooking the Gave and on the edge of the Hédas ravine. It is best-known as the birth place of Henry IV of France and Navarre (1553), the court of Navarre being gathered there at the time. The castle underwent a thorough renovation in the 19th century under Louis-Philippe and Napoléon III. Today it is a national museum housing a large collection of tapestries.
Access & Transport
The main entrance is via Rue du Château, over the Pont de Nemours. The castle is within walking distance from most of the city's highlights. Getting to Pau by car is easy with the east-west A64 expressway (Toulouse to Biarritz) and the A65 heading north to Bordeaux. The town is also on the train line between Toulouse and Bayonne or Bordeaux (splits in Dax) and has its own airport (PUF - mostly domestic flights) about 10km northwest of the centre. Accessibility info: https://chateau-pau.fr/accessibilite
Instructions & Recommendations
For the French guided visit, you may want to book online ahead of time. This activity is best combined with an exploration of the town.
Environmental & Social
We deem this activity environmentally neutral (some electricity consumption for heating and lighting) Preserves the city's architectural and cultural heritages and brings some economic activity to the neighbourhood
Conclusion
The Pau Castle is worth visiting for anybody going through the region as it provides the best opportunity to learn about the history of Béarn, Henri IV and Navarre (at least, this side of the Pyrenees). The building and gardens make for an enjoyable experience, enhanced by the impressive collection of tapestries and the dominating position of the structure over the lower parts of the city.
Key positive
Renovated in the 19th century and well maintained since then
Extensive gardens (22ha)
Key negative
Furnishing and interiors are not as extravagant and impressive as in some famous Chateaux
Suitability
Suitable for all ages but children under 10 may not find it interesting. Only the ground floor is accessible for visitors with reduced mobility and the gardens will require an accompanying adult in some areas (cobblestones and gravel paths).
About this Rating
TYPE
Onsite
RESEARCHED IN
May 2024
PROVIDER
Koreval
av. transport time:0h 30m
est. visit time:1h
MONDAY09:30 - 11:45
TUESDAY09:30 - 11:45
WEDNESDAY09:30 - 11:45
THURSDAY09:30 - 11:45
FRIDAY09:30 - 11:45
SATURDAY09:30 - 11:45
SUNDAY09:30 - 11:45
MONDAY14:00 - 17:00
TUESDAY14:00 - 17:00
WEDNESDAY14:00 - 17:00
THURSDAY14:00 - 17:00
FRIDAY14:00 - 17:00
SATURDAY14:00 - 17:00
SUNDAY14:00 - 17:00