PAU AND CYCLING
The last five stage starts from the capital of Béarn have been rather favourable to Tadej Pogacar, with three stage victories, first in Laruns in 2020, then in Luz-Ardiden the following year and finally in Pla-d'Adet in 2024. In 2023, however, Jai Hindley won in Laruns and took the Yellow Jersey, while the Slovenian was distanced by his great rival Jonas Vingegaard, the future winner of the race. But last year in Superbagnères, even though he had to concede the stage victory to Thymen Arensman, who made a bold breakaway, Pogacar secured second place a few seconds ahead of his Danish rival. There is no doubt that the defending champion will be delighted to return to the third most visited city on the Tour after Paris and Bordeaux.In 2019, the capital of Béarn celebrated the centenary of the Yellow Jersey, masterfully honoured by Julian Alaphilippe, who won the time trial on the programme while maintaining his lead in the general classification. The shared history between Pau and the Tour de France began in 1930.
A base camp before or after the climbs up the Pyrenees, it suits all types of riders, as evidenced by the list of winners in the city, ranging from climbers René Vietto and Fausto Coppi to rouleurs such as Pierrick Fedrigo. Among the sprinters, Sean Kelly, Erik Zabel and Robbie McEwen preceded Arnaud Démare, who scored a prestigious victory there in 2018, his second in the Tour. With so many finishes in the city (and just as many starts on the Boulevard des Pyrénées), the Tour was bound to inspire many riders to pursue a career in cycling, and there are many riders with links to Pau. These include Victor Fontan, winner of two stages in 1928 and holder of the Yellow Jersey for a short time in 1929, 1956 Olympic team time trial champion Arnaud Geyre, and closer to home, Stéphane Augé, who has competed eight times, Mathieu Ladagnous, who has seven Tours to his name, and the late sporting director of Team Ineos, Nicolas Portal, who also competed in six Tours as a rider.
PAU
Tour of Giants
Characteristics: For several summers now, the city of Henri IV has also been the city of the Tour des Géants, statues honouring the winners of the Tour de France. Each of these totems features the name and photo of the winner of each individual year, as well as a text written by French writer Christian Laborde. The totems, which are nearly two metres high, form a permanent monument set in the green surroundings of Bois Louis, near the Philippe Tissié Stadium. The site, laid out in a spiral shape, welcomes a new sculpture every year. Each aluminium and glass effigy (three of which are made of bronze) displays the name and photo of the winner of the year, the number of kilometres covered, their average speed and photos or drawings, accompanied by a dynamic and original text. A QR code is affixed to each structure; by scanning it, visitors can listen to the text translated into several languages.
Boulevard des Pyrénées
Completed: 1900
Characteristics: Offers an exceptional panorama of nearly 150 km of the Pyrenees mountain range. Its 850-metre-long balustrade serves as a guide rail. Jean-Charles Alphand envisioned the project, stating: "Pau needs a Promenade des Anglais like in Nice". The boulevard was therefore designed as a mountain replica of the Nice thoroughfare, a privileged place to "see and be seen". This promenade on the edge of a steep, completely artificial balcony is a technical and aesthetic feat, structuring urban development since its creation.
Park and Palais Beaumont
Construction: 1900
Style: Neoclassical
Architect: Émile Bertrand
Characteristics: Built to accommodate wealthy holidaymakers, the Winter Palace, known as Palais Beaumont, now houses a casino and a conference centre. The site is located in the heart of a park with remarkable trees and an outdoor theatre. The Tour de France starting village has often been set up here.
National Museum of Château de Pau
Construction: 12th to 19th centuries
Style: Medieval and composite
History: Standing on a rock overlooking a ford on the Gave river, the foundations of Château de Pau date back to the early Middle Ages. Henri IV was born there on 13 December 1553. Restored under Louis-Philippe, the château became a museum in 1926.
Characteristics: It has a very irregular polygonal layout, at the top of two embankments surrounded by the first and second enclosure. Inside the second enclosure, the castle follows the same polygonal plan. Today, it is flanked by six towers, while a seventh, the Monnaie tower, is part of the first enclosure. The towers are rectangular and connected by a thick wall against which the residential buildings are built.
Current use: A prestigious residence for centuries, the castle became a national museum dedicated to Henri IV in 1926.
Listed as: Historic Monument since 1840
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The banks of the Gave
Characteristics: This 250-hectare park is crossed by 13 km along the banks of the Gave. Remarkable for its natural heritage, the park aims to allow everyone to enjoy a natural space in the city. Facilities include benches, picnic tables, and a whitewater stadium, as well as a Blue Way for sporting and aquatic activities such as canoeing or rafting.
Domaine de Sers
Characteristics: Domaine de Sers (Sers Estate), a newly inaugurated 25-hectare green space, prioritises local residents. In addition to the municipal greenhouses, it is home to the Maison du Jardinier (House of the Gardener), offering information, advice and activities related to sustainable gardening. It also supports citizens in projects to green public spaces.
