to the land of Henri IV

Nothing but slopes!

From the Boulevard des Pyrénées in Pau, you have a great view of the Pyrenees - blue or white depending on the season. As the Jurançon wine area is further south than Pau, you really are in the foothills and the views are breathtaking: the Pic du Midi d’Ossau, a cirque planted with vines... Get your walking shoes on! There are a great many hiking circuits on offer, as well as outings on horseback or with snowshoes.

Spoilt for choice

Still have doubts? Go and see the winegrowers on the Jurançon Wine Route to fully appreciate the nuances of their production during a visit and tasting session. Ranging in colour from pale green to golden yellow, these wines offer a rich and flavoursome array of aromas.
Similarly, at the Jurançon cooperative winery in Gan, thanks to the special wall lighting you can admire the variety of wine colours in the dozens of rows of bottles.

Local architecture

Stones also recount the history of a territory. The castle where Henri IV was born in Pau, the castle of Gaston Fébus in Sauveterre-de-Béarn, buildings erected on the road to Compostela, such as the Commanderie de Lacommande, Aramits Castle and the village of Arthez famous for its musketeers... who, incidentally, each have a model of a cigar in their name at La Maison du Cigare de Navarrenx, the only manufacture of its kind in Europe!
Also worth a visit is Saint-Girons Church in Monein where you can appreciate the church’s “upside-down ship’s hull” structure.

A red neighbour: Béarn

As you go down the Gave de Pau towards Orthez, you enter a less-known appellation, although it bears the same name as the whole area: Béarn - also produced in the neighbouring Gers and Hautes-Pyrénées areas. The use of mainly the tannat variety makes this wine powerful and structured, boasting lovely aromas of ripe fruit. And a relaxing way to end the trip is in the utterly charming town of Salies-de-Béarn, where you can slip gratefully into a spa. Perfect after a long hike!