Pau tourism and travel guide

Pau Hotels & holiday rentals

Places to visit nearby

Pau Excursions & Activities

Car hire in France

Pau Hotels & holiday rentals

Pau Excursions & Activities

Visit Pau: highlights and tourist information

France This Way comment: The large town of Pau is well known for the views from the belvedere that cover a large section of Pyrenees mountains

Pau is situated in the Pyrenees-Atlantiques department and Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.

Attractions in Pau

The Chateau de Pau is an impressive combination of the renaissance and 19th century architectural styles: Chateau de Pau

Tourist classifications for Pau include "ville fleurie 4*".

Below you can see some of the places that we have visited and reviewed and can recommend when you are sightseeing close to Pau in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

Popular places to visit nearby include Oloron-Sainte-Marie at 22 km and Church Sainte-Croix in Oloron-Sainte-Marie at 23 km.

Pau, France: places to visit and attractions

Note that all distances below are 'direct' and real driving distances will be greater!

Chateau de Pau

Castle less than one km (direction west-south-west)

The Chateau de Pau is an impressive combination of the renaissance and 19th century...

See Chateau de Pau guide

Oloron-Sainte-Marie

at 22 km (direction west-south-west)

There are several sights of interest in Oloron-Saint-Marie including a picturesque section of river...

See Oloron-Sainte-Marie guide

Church Sainte-Croix in Oloron-Sainte-Marie

Church at 23 km (direction west-south-west)

The Church Sainte-Croix is an interesting roman style church built in the 12th century...

See Church Sainte-Croix in Oloron-Sainte-Marie guide

Cathedral Saint-Marie in Oloron-Sainte-Marie

Cathedral at 23 km (direction west-south-west)

The cathedral of Sainte-Marie is best known for its remarkable 12th century entrance...

See Cathedral Saint-Marie in Oloron-Sainte-Marie guide

Navarrenx

at 32 km (direction west)

Navarrenx is a traditional fortified French bastide town in the western pyrenees...

See Navarrenx guide

Sarrance

at 33 km (direction south-west), in the Pyreees-Atlantiques department

The small village of Sarrance is in the valley of the Gave d'Aspe and...

See Sarrance guide

Laruns

at 35 km (direction south)

Laruns is a pretty village, but it is the surrounding mountain scenery that attracts...

See Laruns guide

Lourdes

at 36 km (direction east-south-east), in the Hautes-Pyrenees department

Lourdes is of course very famous as a pilgrimage centre which attracts millions of...

See Lourdes guide

Col d'Aubisque

Scenery at 36 km (direction south)

The Col d'Aubisque is a beautiful mountain pass with views of numerous high mountains...

See Col d'Aubisque guide

Eaux-Bonnes

at 36 km (direction south)

Eaux-Bonnes is a 19th century belle-epoque spa town at the base of the Col...

See Eaux-Bonnes guide

Tarbes

at 36 km (direction east), in the Hautes-Pyrenees department

The substantial gardens of Jardin Massey are the main place of interest in the...

See Tarbes guide

Gourette

at 38 km (direction south)

Gourette s a small ski station on the route to the Col d'Aubisque near...

See Gourette guide

Maubourguet

at 38 km (direction east-north-east), in the Hautes-Pyrenees department

Maubourguet makes every effort to hide its impressive monuments but take the time to...

See Maubourguet guide

Orthez

at 39 km (direction west-north-west)

The 13th century stone bridge across the river is the highlight of your visit...

See Orthez guide

... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Pyrenees-Atlantiques

Find Pau hotels & holiday rentals

Reserve excursions near Pau

Map of places to visit near Pau

Markets in and near Pau

Market days in Pau: weekly market: every day except Sunday;

• Pau: market every day except Sunday (0km)
• Gan: market Wednesday (7km)
• Monein: market Monday (17km)
• Artix: market Wednesday & Sunday (20km)
• Mourenx: market Wednesday & Saturday (22km)
• Oloron-Sainte-Marie: market Friday (23km)
• Castet: market Thursday (26km)
• Arthez-de-Bearn: market Saturday (27km)
• Navarrenx: market Wednesday (32km)
• Lourdes: market Wednesday & Tuesday & Thursday all day & Saturday all day & Monday & Friday (34km)

More information about Pau, Aquitaine

Tourist attractions near Pau, France

What to do at Pau? Some places with official tourist classifications and other places of interest to visit nearby that should provide inspiration if you are visiting Pau.

Heritage sites

• Eglise, Oloron-Sainte-Marie (monuments on French pilgrim routes) (23km)
• Eglise St Blaise (monuments on French pilgrim routes) (33km)
• Ourdis-Cotdoussan église St Jacques (monuments on French pilgrim routes) (42km)
• Aire sur l'Adour église St Quitterie (monuments on French pilgrim routes) (45km)

National Monuments

• Marshall Foch house (36km)

Remarkable gardens

• Jardin du château de Momas (18km)
• Jardins du château de Viven (19km)
• Jardin Massey (37km)

Sites of natural beauty

• Grottes de Betharram (26km)
• Vallée d'Ossau (35km)
• Col d'Aubisque (36km)
• Cirque du Litor (38km)
• Vallée d'Aspe (43km)
• Cirque de Saint-Engrace (50km)
• Cirque de Sainte-Engrâce (50km)
• Grottes de Médous (51km)
• Gorges d'Ehujarre (51km)
• Gorges de Kakouetta (53km)
• Gorges de Kakoetta (53km)
• Gorges d'Holzarté (55km)
• Col du Tourmalet (60km)

Towns of Art and history

• Oloron-Sainte-Marie (23km)

Villages in bloom 4* (fr: ville fleurie)

• Tarbes (36km)
• Hagetmau (44km)

Zoo and/or wildlife park

• Zoo d'Asson (20km)

Geography and distances

Pau is in the south-west of France - it is the prefecture (capital) of the Pyrenees-Atlantiques department (general information: Pau is 653 kilometres from Paris).

Getting here

Most visitors fly into Biarritz airport (Bordeaux is another option). Allow at least 8 hours for the drive from the cross-channel ferries. For driving distances to Pau from anywhere in France see driving distances and route planner.

We have 14 other places listed as being close (less than kilometres from ): Aressy, Assat, Billere, Bizanos, Gelos, Jurancon, Laroin, Lescar, Lons, Mazeres-Lezons, Meillon, Narcastet, Rontignon and Uzos.

This page in French: Visiter Pau