Tourime_Urbain Fr RoVo.indd

Transcription

Tourime_Urbain Fr RoVo.indd
����
�������
��������
�
��
�
�
�
Le bon côté du Sud
�������������
������������������������
��������������������
�����������������������������������������������������
������������������������������
L'Aquitaine
���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
�����������������������������������������
���������������
������������������������
Weekend breaks in town
I N A Q U I TA I N E
��������
���������
See the city from on high
Pey Berland Tower standing next to the cathedral offers
an unobstructed view of the city and the river. Built in the
15th century at the request of the archbishop who gave
the tower its name, this Gothic edifice now has a statue
of Notre-Dame d’Aquitaine standing on its peak and is
home to a famous bell weighing more than 11 tons! In the
evening, this free-standing bell-tower is superbly lit up.
...............................................................................................................
Go to market with a chef
Discover the quaysides by water
Aboard the taxi-boat called La Clapotine or the former cereals barge
Burdigala, a river trip is a lovely way to visit the city of Bordeaux, also
known as the Port de la Lune, and to enjoy an exceptional view of the
quayside façades.You can stop off at one of the restaurants set on the
riverbanks, or sit on the deck under a parasol!
17
................................................................................................................................
CHARENTE-MARITIME
Tél. : +33 (0)5 56 81 26 25
http://pey-berland.monuments-nationaux.fr
��
��
����
�
�
�
���� ����
��
��
���
���
��
Périgueux Tourism Board
Tél. : +33 (0)5 53 53 10 63
www.tourisme-perigueux.fr
����
�
Tél. : +33 (0)5 56 49 36 88
www.evolutiongaronne.com
In Périgueux, producers who are passionate about their
profession will tell you the secrets of their produce as you
wander round the market.You can also learn how to cook
the gourmet specialities that have made the Perigord
region famous by taking cookery classes. Here, the chef
will also teach you how to choose the right produce at the
town’s many markets.
...............................................................................................................
��
��
�� ����
��
�
87
HAUTEVIENNE
16
CHARENTE
�
�
��������
Come across secret places
���
��
PARC NATUREL RÉGIONAL
�
� �
����
��
��
��
��
��
�
� �
S
�� �
�
�
����
E
W
��
�� �
���
�� � �
����� �
In the 16th century, Portuguese Jews settled in the Saint-Esprit
district and brought with them the cocoa bean, as well as their
chocolate-making know-how.This delicacy has been elevated to a
local cultural tradition, for example with the chocolate containing
Espelette chilli pepper at the Atelier du Chocolat or the foamy
hot chocolate at Cazenave under the arcades in the town
centre, and there is even a museum recounting the
history of chocolate and its manufacturing secrets.
A delightful way to savour this Basque town.
..............................................................................
Hiding behind the doors of private townhouses and in
small boutiques there are unsuspected architectural
marvels. A medieval tower, a Renaissance staircase,
interior courtyards… the secret wonders of Périgueux
await you.This visit proposed by the tourist office gives
you the keys to the town. And afterwards, how about a
coffee on a café terrace to soak up the atmosphere of
this magical district.
..........................................................................................................
Cf. details of Périgueux tourist office
��
��
�
PÉRIGORD LIMOUSIN
��
���������
��
���
�
�
�
�����
�
�����
����������
�������
�
� ��
��� �
�
�����
�����������
� �� �
�����
��
�������
����
33
GIRONDE
��
24
DORDOGNE
�������
�
��������
��
�
��
��������
Tél. : +33 (0)5 59 55 00 15
www.atelierduchocolat.fr
��������
���
�
������
����������
������
��������
���������
����������
�����
��������
�����
�� �
�
��
�
� � ������ � � �� �
�
�
��
��������
������������
���������
�
NATUREL
RÉGIONAL
LANDES
������
47
LOT-ET-GARONNE
��
DE
����
��
GASCOGNE
����
�
�����
���
�
Feel like a city break? Bordeaux, Bayonne, Périgueux and
Pau are all ideal destinations offering charm, good addresses, history,
gourmet specialities, events or quite simply a great atmosphere.
���
��
���� �
��
32
GERS
�� �
���
�
��
�
�
�
�
If you are a city-dweller at heart or if you enjoy surprises, these
Aquitaine towns with their strong individual personality lend
themselves perfectly to visits at any time of year. They combine
the pleasure of a stroll through their streets, the charm of historic
buildings, the diversity of their cultural offering, a wide variety of
events, and a whole host of famous restaurants and pleasant
bistros. You will also find a thousand and one shopping ideas on
the premises of local creators or in the shopping districts with their
classical, trendy or offbeat products.
�
���� �� ���
�
�����
���
���
�
�� �
�������
���
��� �
�
��������
����
�����
���
�����
A Q U I TA I N E
�����
������
��������
���
�����
�
��
��������������
�
���
82
TARN-ET-GARONNE
��
�� �
IN
��
40
LANDES
������
������� ����
��������
��
���
�
� ��
��
��
� ��
��
DES
�����
�����������
� ��
������������������
� �� �
������������������
��������������
Tél. : +33 (0)5 59 25 77 18
www.djebelle.com
Weekend breaks in town
��
��
��
PARC
�� �
����
Take a break in one of the two
guest rooms on the Djebelle
barge, moored on the quay.You
will fall under the charm of this
floating guest house offering
comfy nights in a haven of peace
and quiet, with a fantastic view of
the town.You’ll love it!
...............................................................
��
N
Give into the temptation of Bayonne chocolate
Awaken on the Adour River
��
�
�
�������
� � ��� �
��
���
���
�
�
�
���
�
�
����
��
����
���
���
�
����
�
��
��
��
���
�
�
����
��
�
����
�
�������
��� �� �
��
��
�
��
�
��
�
��
� ��
�
��
��
�
�
���
�
� �� � � �
���
��
�
�
31
HAUTE-GARONNE
��
��
��
�
��
��
��
� � ��
�
��
�����
���
� �� � �
�
� ��
�
�����
���
�� �
��
����
��
��
�
��
64
PYRÉNÉESATLANTIQUES
���
�
��
��
���
�
��
�
�����
65
HAUTES-PYRÉNÉES
� ����
�� �
��
�
And if you fancy combining urban tourism with a trip to the seaside,
Arcachon, Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz are all historic resorts
brimming over with life all year long and just waiting for you.
09
ARIÈGE
�����
PARC NATIONAL DES PYRÉNÉES
� ����
Share the table of Henri IV
��
In the restaurants of Pau, it is easy to find the favourite
dishes of the king who was born in this lovely town. But
to share his table, it is even better to visit the castle
where he was born and which is home to a magnificent
collection of tapestries, as well as a tortoiseshell that
was apparently used as the baby king’s cradle…
..........................................................................................................
�����������
www.bordeaux-tourisme.com
www.pau-pyrenees.com
www.bayonne-tourisme.com
www.tourisme-perigueux.fr
www.musee-chateau-pau.fr
Be a horse whisperer
At the National Stud Farm of Pau-Gelos with its close
links to the creation of the Anglo-Arab breed, you will
see thoroughbreds, draught horses or Landes ponies.The
stud farm’s history started with the arrival of Napoleon
Bonaparte. Every hour there is a guided tour to show you
the stables, carriages, stallions, blacksmith’s, saddlery and
paddocks, all set in a magnificent park.
..............................................................................................................
Tél. : +33 (0)5 59 35 06 52
www.haras-nationaux.fr
From
142 � / per person
From
95 � / per person
in a double room
in a double room
2 nights in a double room
at a 2, 3 or 4 star hotel
with breakfast
Guided tour of Bordeaux
and the wine region with
tasting sessions at châteaux
Free passes valid for 2 days
at the sites, monuments and
museums of the city and on
all urban public transport
systems
1 bottle of wine per room
���������
�������������
3 days / 2 nights
in a double room at a 2, 3 or 4 star
hotel with breakfast
Visit of the Gallo-Roman town or
the mediaeval district
A tourist package combining
a discovery in total freedom of
this elegant city’s heritage, plus
its famous wine region.
..................................................................................
Perigord dinner
Admission to the Vesunna Museum,
Bordeaux Tourism Board
Tél. : +33 (0)5 56 00 66 00
www.bordeaux-tourisme.com
the Green Route and the Blue Route,
and bike provided throughout your
stay.
‘Pass’shopping’ card to discover
great shopping ideas in the town.
A local product and a souvenir gift
��������������������������
�����������������������
From the former Gallo-Roman town of Vesunna to the
Mediaeval-Renaissance district, Périgueux offers more
than 2000 years of history and one of the biggest
safeguarded areas in France. It is also a welcoming town
bathed in the colours of Tuscany and a land of tradition
and gastronomy, renowned for its pleasant lifestyle.
designed by the architect Jean Nouvel
Lunch by the riverside.
Unaccompanied bike ride along
Périgueux Tourism Board
Tél. : +33 (0)5 53 53 10 63
www.tourisme-perigueux.fr
������
��������������
����������������
188 � / per person
in a double room
������
�����
��������
���������
A break combining heritage
and local flavours with a
discovery of the town’s
architectural riches,
its museums and its
gastronomy.
ACCESSIBLE TOWNS
A great many airlines serve the Aquitaine airports daily and most French cities including Paris
are just an hour’s flight away, while the major European cities are less than two hours
from the towns of Aquitaine.
...........................................................................
in a double room at a
2, 3 or 4 star hotel with
breakfast
Visit dof the Gallo-Roman
town and the mediaeval
district
Perigord dinner
Pass’musées (free
admission to the town’s
four museums) and
Pass’shopping
Visit to a farm, tasting
session
Gastronomic lunch.
Cookery class
A local product and a
souvenir gift
Tél. : +33 (0)5 53 53 10 63
www.tourisme-perigueux.fr
����������
���������
�������������
������������������
An ideal escapade to discover all the riches
of the town and its surrounding area, the
charm of Pau with its castle, gourmet market
and strolls around the parks and gardens, the
warm welcome of dedicated winegrowers and
the magnificent landscapes of the wine area
and the Pyrenean foothills.
.................................................................................................................
Pau Tourism Board
Tél. : +33 (0)5 59 27 27 08
www.pau-pyrenees.com
From
185 � / per person
in a double room
3 days / 2nights
www.ryanair.com
www.sterling.com
www.lufthansa.com
www.airfrance.com
www.transavia.com
www.myair.com
www.iberia.com
www.regional.com
www.flybe.com
www.flynordic.com
www.germanwings.com www.voyages-sncf.com
www.easyJet.com
www.bmibaby.com
www.britishairways.com
www.flybaboo.com
www.aerlingus.com
www.airlinair.com
From
190 � / per person
in a double room
3 days / 2nights in a double
room at a 2, 3 or 4 star hotel with
breakfast
Booking and admission to two
18-hole golf courses
Visit and tasting at a Jurançon wine
estate
Roadbook
Bayonne Tourism Board
Tél. : +33 (0) 820 42 64 64
www.bayonne-tourisme.com
From
124 � / per person
in a double room
3 days / 2nights
in a double room at a 2 or
3 star hotel with breakfast
1 gastronomic dinner
A Culture Pass including
admission to the Musée
Basque, admission to the
Musée Bonnat and a
guided tour of the town.
Roadbook
Roadbook
������������������������
������������������������
A whole weekend to discover the incomparable charm of
the Pau golf courses, including the illustrious Pau Golf Club,
the oldest on mainland Europe, while enjoying the riches of
the town and the superb vineyards of Jurançon.
...............................................................................................................................................
Tél. : +33 (0)5 59 27 27 08
www.pau-pyrenees.com
Musée Basque, Musée Bonnat, guided tour of
the town: this break will plunge you into the
heart of the history of Bayonne, its ancient
districts, its ramparts, its cellars... An excellent
introduction to the roots of the Basque Country.
.....................................................................................................................
in a double room at a 2, 3 or
4 star hotel with breakfast
1 gourmet dinner at the
Terrasses de Beaumont
1 lunch at an inn
Visit to Pau Castle and
two tasting visits in the
Jurançon wine area
Town pack: audio-guided
tour of the historic centre
of Pau
Information, rates and bookings on the sites of the airline companies offering flights to Bergerac,
Bordeaux, Biarritz and Pau.
Alternatively, nothing could be easier than taking a train: 3 hours on the TGV high-speed train to
get from Paris to Bordeaux, 2 hours from Bordeaux to Pau or Bayonne, one hour from Bordeaux to
Périgueux, 4 ½ hours from Périgueux to Paris…
for breaks
.......................................................................................................................................
From
3 days / 2 nights
Ideas
������������������
������������������
��������������������
An exceptional break combining urban tourism and sporting
pleasure on three of the finest courses of the Basque Country, all
located within the Bayonne-Anglet-Biarritz conurbation: Makila Golf
Club at the gateway to Bayonne, Chiberta golf course in Anglet, and
Biarritz Le Phare course in the famous seaside resort.
...............................................................................................................................................................
Tél. : +33 (0) 820 42 64 64
www.bayonne-tourisme.com
From
296 � / per person
in a double room
4 days / 3 nights
in a double room at a 2 or
3 star hotel with breakfast
3 green fees 18 holes
1 gastronomic dinner
Roadbook
����������
the modernity of an 18th-century city
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
Today’s visitors are struck by the city’s
character – both monumental and
appealing. Spectacularly lit up at night,
the opera house, the cathedral, the
Esplanade des Quinconces, Place de la
Bourse and the façades of the quaysides
all boast beautiful architecture with
their light-coloured stone. And with the
conviviality of the new pedestrian areas
of the city centre, Bordeaux, the capital of
Aquitaine, is incontestably France’s finest
example of 18th-century architecture.
You get the best view of the city from the
right bank. You absolutely must cross the
Pont de Pierre bridge, either on foot or
by tram. The view you get of the façades
of the quaysides – a proud line of 18thcentury buildings over several kilometres
– is quite remarkable for its architectural
unity, notably the Place de la Bourse.
On the right bank you can take lunch
or dinner while enjoying this spectacular
view, or discover the new botanical garden
reflecting the landscapes and plants of
the surrounding region in a contemporary
environment.
Two districts of Bordeaux are particularly
well-suited to strolling and shopping:
�� ������������ with its narrow streets
and terraces with original shops, creative
jewellers and a bookshop with lovely
stone arches. What about a trip to a
cinema set in a former church, or a few
oysters in one of the many restaurants
close to the opera house?
����������������������� set around
the Place des Grands Hommes is where
you will find all the top designer brands
in a lively, welcoming district. Stop off
at Place Gambetta or on the Allées de
Tourny, an avenue named after the
architect who gave the city its style. Here,
in the second half of June, the avenue is
transformed into a huge outdoor terrace
where you can eat to the sound of music
played by groups who add to the festive
nature of Bordeaux. In December it is
here that the big Christmas Market is
held – yet another reason to come to the
city in winter!
���������������������������
�������
����������
There are a great many
theatres and other venues in
Bordeaux.
������������������������
TNBA (Bordeaux Aquitaine National
Theatre) sell seats for the day’s
performances at half price at the
Culture Kiosk on Allées de Tourny,
opposite the opera house. At this
kiosk you will also find information
1
Escale du Livre, an offbeat book fair
with special emphasis on regional
publishers.
���������������������
�������� theatre at the Boite à
������ at the�������������� at
the Salinières Theatre or at the
���������������� exhibitions at
museums or art galleries…
Bordeaux Fête le Vin in even years,
alternating with the Fête du Fleuve in
odd years. These are big festive events
with many performances, in particular
alongside the riverbank.
����������������������������
������������������������������
��������
The Novart Bordeaux festival, a whole
month devoted to contemporary
creation – dance, music, theatre,
plastic arts and sculpture – in various
parts of the city.
���������������
3
2
The walk you absolutely must do
�����������
��������
about other shows: concerts at the
������������������� the���������
the Satin Doll or the ���������
������������������
Tél. : +33 (0)5 56 79 39 56
1
The Salon des Antiquaires du SudOuest is France’s biggest antiques fair
outside Paris.
�����������������
Tél. : +33 (0)5 56 00 66 00
2
Along the riverside
Walk along the waterfront from Quai de la
Monnaie and stop off at the Water Mirror
which reflects the Place de la Bourse and gives
the buildings a magical feel when the steam
is released (it has become a photographer’s
paradise!). Carry on as far as the Chartrons
district, formerly a stronghold of wine traders,
with its lovely terraces in front of cafés and
restaurants. A little further on you will find the
trendy restaurants of the Bassin à Flot… On
Sunday mornings make the most of the market,
where people meet up and feast on oysters and
other delicacies.
If you had to choose just
one museum to visit...
3
Set in a 19th-century port
warehouse, the CAPC Museum
������������������� presents
the major artistic movements of the
last 40 years and regularly exhibits
the works of young up-and-coming
artists. On the roof there is a
restaurant with a terrace which
offers brunch on Sundays.
Unforgettable shopping
experiences
����������������
Bordeaux is also the city which
gave its name to the world’s biggest
fine-wine region: 57 appellations
and a reputation to make your
mouth water! In the city centre,
many wine merchants offer a vast
choice and very useful advice. If you
prefer to taste before buying, call
in at the wine-bar of the Conseil
Interprofessionnel de Bordeaux, where
you can drink wine by the glass.
Tél. +33 (0)5 56 00 81 50
www.bordeaux.fr
������������
This is a caramelised little cake with a delicious vanilla taste
and sometimes a hint of rum, and a soft centre inside a
crunchy outer coating. Many pastry shops sell them, but there
are also shops and kiosks specifically dedicated to them. You
should try them at least once and take some home for your
friends – they keep for several days.
�������������������������
This is a delicious snack made of semi-candied raisins, “Fine de
Bordeaux”, and almonds. Created in 1976 by Jacques Pouquet,
a master pastry maker and chocolate maker, when he found
some almonds on a walk in the Lussac Saint-Emilion wine area.
His daughter Véronique is carrying on the family tradition.
���������
the true basque spirit
�����������������������������������������������������������������
win you over.
Grand Bayonne has everything heritagelovers could possibly want. The Château
Vieux and the cathedral, listed as
UNESCO World Heritage, are surrounded
by beautiful buildings and medieval
streets where you can admire red and
green half-timbered houses in the purest
Basque style. This is where most of the
ancient monuments and the shops are
to be found.
Once you have admired the town’s art
deco architecture (La Poste or Galeries
Lafayette), take the time to stroll under
the arcades of Rue du Port Neuf or along
Rue Victor Hugo. In the morning, stop off at
Les Halles (indoor market) to stock up on
delicacies in this place which used to be
connected to port business. On Saturday
mornings there is also an outdoor market
with many local products.
On the other side of the River Nive,
Petit Bayonne also has plenty of charm:
pretty façades with typical shutters, the
remarkable Musée Bonnat which is
home to the collection of the eponymous
painter, and welcoming restaurants and
bars close to the Pont Pannecau. The
streets in the old town have kept their
names offering a reminder of the history
of Bayonne.
To make your stay even more pleasant,
leave your car in the car-parks provided
for you and take the free electric shuttle
or a bike – also free – placed at your
disposal at the tourist office.
�
�������
Bayonne has a national theatre
offering dance, plays, song, comedy…
������������
The Bayonne Côte Basque
���������������������������
������������������ regularly
�����
performs there.
Ham Fair
������������
And for a variety of shows expressing
local culture, try the Luna Negra
cabaret in a superb cellar in the old
You’ll just love Bayonne!
quarter.
The Bayonne ham production region
represents 2,000 pig farmers, around
20 salting firms and some 50
craftspeople producing 1,300,000
hams. The Bayonne Ham Fair during
Holy Week is where you will find
the finest hams and a whole festival
of traditional pork products on the
market square.
���
������������������
���������������
during Ascension Weekend, is an
opportunity for kids and adults to
watch the manufacture of “real”
chocolate and to taste the result.
Chocolate dipping is done in the
streets of the town and visitors are
invited to taste the delicacies made by
master chocolate makers. The tourist
office organises specific visits for you
to discover the history of chocolate in
the town.
2
1
1
The walk you must do
On the banks of the River
Nive, the Quai Jauréguiberry
for its beautiful buildings
dating from the 17th to 19th
centuries, its bars, restaurants
and bodegas with their
friendly atmosphere.
2
If you had to choose just
one museum…
The Musée Basque in the Maison
Dagourette, a 17th-century townhouse,
for an immersion into Basque culture
and traditions. Entirely refurbished and
reopened in 2001, it shows historical
heritage in a modern way. It presents not
only culture but also a lifestyle, a social
organisation, economic history and artistic
expression.
Tél. : +33 (0)5 59 46 61 90
www.musee-basque.com
3
3
Unforgettable
shopping
experiences
������������
because it was here in the
port of Bayonne that the
cocoa bean first came to
France in the 17th century.
Bayonne still has 7 master
chocolate makers today.
��������������
for the quality of its weaving
and its bright, colourful stripes.
4
����
����������������
Three days in which jazz invades the
streets.
�������
4
���������������������
the absolute must for all red-andwhite clad “festayres” from France
and Navarre. Over four days and five
nights, the mayor gives the inhabitants
the keys to the town: performances,
cow races, parades with floats and,
above all, meetings between friends
for an unforgettable moment in the
middle of summer.
��������������������
����������
the Gallo-Roman town and cradle of the Périgord region
Compagnie Chapkia
����������������������������������������������������������
��������������������������������������������������������
Périgueux was a Gallo-Roman town
and the remains have been highlighted
superbly, notably at the Villa Vesunna, a
house with some 50 or so rooms around
which the architect Jean Nouvel designed
a transparent museum with very rich
collections – statues, ceramics, jewels,
maps – giving a fascinating insight into
life in that era. Nearby, you can take a
rest in the gardens set in the former
amphitheatre built in the 1st century, a
haven of peace and quiet where you can
imagine the shows put on by our ancestors.
Around the cathedral with its Byzantine
cupolas, a stage on the pilgrimage route
to Santiago de Compostela, there is the
medieval Puy Saint-Front district. The
narrow streets and little squares are
utterly charming. Admire the marvellous
Renaissance façades of one of France’s
���������������������������
most beautiful safeguarded areas.
The town is also a gastronomic one
and local producers’ markets are held
every day. On the big market days –
Wednesdays and Saturdays – people
come from far and wide to fill their
shopping baskets with chicken, duck,
fruit and vegetables, cèpe mushrooms
and seasonal truffles… And between
November and March there are the
famous duck and goose markets! You
should taste a demoiselle – the carcass
of a fattened duck, grilled at the market
and shared free of charge among visitors
– or figs with foie gras, a delicious sweetand-savoury combination washed down
with a glass of Monbazillac, a château
well worth visiting in the Bergerac wine
area, about an hour from Périgueux.
������
������ the international mime
festival with street performances and
artists from all over the world
�������
Périgueux has a theatre, the
���������offering a varied
programme: plays, music, song,
comedy...
������������������������
In the town centre on Place
Tél : +33 (0)5 53 53 18 71
������������
��������
The international gourmet
���������� devoted to cookery books
and table arts. It takes place every two
years - in even years - and 2008 is its
10th edition.
���������������������
Francheville, there is also a modern
cinema showing the latest films in
excellent conditions.
For amplified music, meanwhile, Le
Sans Réserve is a must.
www.sans-reserve.org
1
The walk you must do
3
2
1
2
Starting from Mataguerre Tower which offers a
lovely view of the town, walk through the narrow
streets and take the little passageways linking
them together through interior courtyards, and
discover the shops and crafts workshops. The
best way is to ask for a guidebook from the
tourist office so that you don’t miss the best
addresses and the finest buildings.
If you had to choose just one
museum to visit…
3
The trompe-l’œil museum, the only one of its
kind in Europe. Both a museum and a school,
it familiarises visitors with an art that is more
widespread that you might think. The optical
illusions begin with the fake marble and fake
wood that are often to be found in our buildings.
You also see them in theatres or on cinema
sets. The museum also allows artists to express
themselves with their art and their interpretation
of what is real. Enthusiasts can also do a training
course in this technique, giving you the basics of
the art in the space of one week.
Périgueux Tourism Board
Tél. : +33 (0)5 53 53 10 63
www.tourisme-perigueux.fr
�������������������
resistant, practical, beautiful and
produced by craftsmen.
Unforgettable
shopping
experiences
�����������������
with a foie gras centre
coated with black Périgord
truffle under a thin flaky
pastry. Each year there is a
competition with a trophy
for the best producer, and
it is a real incentive for the
town’s producers!
�������������
for you to discover one of the
region’s most famous products,
the walnut, which you can also
find coated in chocolate.
www.museedutrompeloeil.com
����
the town of henri IV at the foot of the Pyrénées
����������������������������������������������������������������
���������������������������������������������������������������
��������������������������������
An exceptional location between the
“gaves” (rivers) and the Pyrenean
mountains, combined with a lovely climate,
earned Pau the status of favourite holiday
resort of the 19th-century European
aristocracy, particularly the English. It is
to this prestigious past that Pau owes its
golf course, the oldest in mainland Europe,
its national stud farm, its hippodrome, its
finest villas and their sublime gardens
planted with palm trees, magnolias, cedars
and tulips.
But the town that witnessed the birth of
the future King Henri IV in 1553 has not
forgotten its Béarn roots. Pau Castle bears
testimony to nine centuries of history:
it was the stronghold of the Viscounts of
Béarn, a fortress under Gaston Fébus, then
a royal residence in the Renaissance.
�
�������
Pau has a Zénith which hosts
You should also visit the Palais Beaumont,
once a winter palace and now home to
a congress centre, a casino, an auditorium
and a restaurant on the terrace. It overlooks
the park of the same name, ideal for
a bracing walk around 12 hectares of
landscaped informal gardens with a lake
and a waterfall.
Next, how about a walk through the
town’s shopping streets or the Le Hédas
quarter, a former working-class district
that also used to be the town’s only water
supply point. Guided tours organised by
the tourist office ensure you miss nothing
as you discover beautiful houses and the
history that has marked the town.
many shows and performances.
In summer, free concerts are also
organised in the public parks.
At the �����������������
Charge plays are put on, and
also musicals.
���������������������������
Lastly, the Pau Béarn
��������� plays regularly in
town, at the Palais Beaumont,
directed by Fayçal Karoui, who
is also Music Director of the
prestigious New-York City Ballet
founded by George Balanchine.
���������������������������
���
���������������
the only automobile race in France to
take place in a town centre. Sports
cars of bygone days take up the
challenge. It is often an opportunity to
see exhibitions of vintage cars.
Tél. : +33 (0)5 59 27 31 89
�������
International Three-Day
����������a must for the world’s
top riders.
Tél. : +33 (0)5 59 92 94 25
2
1
1
The walk you
absolutely must do
2
If you had to choose just
one museum…
Boulevard des Pyrénées
Fine Arts Museum
On foot or in a horse-drawn
carriage along the Boulevard
des Pyrénées, south facing and
entirely planted with palm
trees, lemon trees and cacti. The
boulevard offers an unobstructed
view over the Pyrenees – “the
loveliest view of the land in the
same way that Naples is the
loveliest view of the sea”, wrote
Lamartine!
This is the second collection in
Aquitaine, presenting a glimpse of
artistic creation since the end of the
15th century. You will see works by
El Greco, Rubens and Degas… The
museum is also worth seeing for the
building itself, a fine example of 1930s
art deco architecture
Tél : +33 (0)5 59 27 33 02
3
3
Unforgettable shopping
experiences
����������� the wine of the Kings
of France, the vineyards of which are
planted at the gateway to Pau.
����������������������������
These products can be found in
town, but also at the production
site in Uzos, three kilometres
from Pau Castle. Among the bestknown are the “coucougnettes du
vert gallant” and the countless
types of jam…
www.vins-jurancon.fr
www.francis-miot.com
�������������������
the emblematic headpiece
manufactured in Nay, 25 minutes
from Pau! A museum is devoted to
the beret next to one of France’s
last production sites.
www.museeduberet.com