Pau is a city in Pyrénées-Atlantiques. The town was fortified in the 11th century, and the château de Pau was the birth place of Henri IV of France. Pau has a population of around 85,000.
Access
By train
There is a train station very near the centre. Outside, there is a "feniculaire", which will carry you and your luggage to the main area, which is higher then the station. Trains come and go from the destinations you would expect, Paris, Bordeaux, Bayonne, etc.
Sightseeing
- Le ch̢teau de Pau Рthe birth place of Henri IV of France. Beautiful architecture. It can only be seen on hourly guided tours.
Shopping
There are many large chain stores in the centre at Place Clemenceau- H&M, Fnac, Quiksilver/Roxy, Galeries Lafayette, etc. There are also smaller shops in the streets surrounding it. There is a large market, typical of French towns, in a hall somewhere near the centre (sure, you can find out when you get there). In it you can buy a lot of fresh foods.
Restaurants
Just opposite the main gate of the chateau there is an creperie with outside tables. It is an excellent place to soak up the sun and admire the architecture.
The brasserie 'Le Berry' on rue Gachet offers a variety of French and regional fare in gigantic portions for unbelievably low prices. The steak tartare, magret de canard, fish, and salads are especially good. Be sure to order half portions as these are generally larger than the normal-sized portions at other restaurants. This is always packed with locals so you may be forced to wait a few minutes for a table.
The restaurant 'Le Goxoki' is a basque restaurant and offers several local dishes such as 'La poule au pot'. The portions are large enough to fill a rugbyman's appetite (there are lots of rugby-based items in the restaurant).
Lodging
See the Listing of the Hotels in Pau