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

Make your way to the cooperative winery of Jurançon, in Gan, where thanks to the clever wall lighting you can admire all the shades of colours in the wine displayed in dozens of rows of bottles. From pale green to golden yellow, a whole host of shades are matched by the variety of flavours when you taste them.

Local architecture

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... All these buildings recount the history of the region. You should also visit Saint-Girons de Monein church and see its wood structure in the form of an upside-down boat hull.

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!