Car Hire Pau - Mini guide to Pau
Pau is a cosmopolitan French town that rests above the banks of the Gave de Pau River in the Western Pyrenees. It’s an ideal location to stop on your ramble through the mountains, with its colourful esplanades and breathtaking views.
Pau has some fascinating renaissance architecture such as the Château de Pau, 2 rue du Château, which dates from the 12th century. Inside you’ll find a splendid collection of Flemish and Gobelin tapestries. The Tour de Gaston Phoebus, known as the rectangular tower, dates back to the 14th century.
Walking through town, you will see the Musée des Beaux-Arts rue Mathieu-Lalanne, which has an edifying collection of European paintings. If you’re looking for bargains, try shopping on place du Forail, behind the château; here you'll find genuine 18th- and 19th-century antiques.
Dining in Pau can be expensive, but there are some cheaper restaurants. Au Fin Gourmet, on the southern periphery of Pau near the railway station has good fare at reasonable prices. The resplendent Les Pres d’Eugenie is a drive away on the Eugénie-les-Bains road.
The region of the Pyrenees is a land of summits, thermal baths, glaciers, underground caverns, winter-sports centres and trout-filled mountain streams. Pau is an ideal location for excursions to the western Pyrénées.
Pau-Uzein Airport is 12kms north of town and there are good train connections from Biarritz. If you decide to drive, take the N117 roadway, which is directly accessible from Toulouse. From Paris, take A10 south to Vierzon, changing to N20 south to Limoges, continuing on N21 south to Tarbes, and finally turning west along N117 to Pau.
