Pyrenean, Oceanic, or Spanish?

One hour from the ocean, one hour from Spain and a view of the Pyrenees summits. Is Pau Pyrenean, Oceanic or Spanish? What does it matter after all, Pau is Pau. Paliose and Bearnese, which opens onto an exceptional environment.

		On the outskirts of the town lie rolling green vines from Jurançon.
	This is a peaceful undulating landscape, scattered with slated roof farm houses, where placid or spirited rivers flow. Incidentally, the Aspe valley, a natural route to Spain, was used by Napoleon to capture Madrid through the Somport and Saragossa pass. Ski amateurs flock to this region to ski at Peyranère and La Pierre-Saint-Martin, or on the Spanish side, at Astun and Candanchù. Its twin valley, Ossau, also lures them to visit Artouste or Gourette and the Aubisque pass.

		Towards the east, situated on the ridge between the Pau and Ousse gorges, Henri IV's road leads you to Lourdes.
	Whether on foot, horse back, or mountain bike; this area is ideal for following the paths traced by the Saint-Jacques-of-Compostelle pilgrimage -Spain again -, follow it down towards the Artouste and Arrémoulit lakes, or the stern southern summit of Ossau - Pyrenees, I tell you ! The Baretous valley's high hills and red ferns link Béarn to the Basque country. A yearning for the ocean? Just a brief ride along the A64 motorway and the pulsating Atlantic towns of Hossegor, Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz, emerge to replace the béarnaise rolling hills. Pyrenean, Oceanic, Spanish, Pau embodies all elements of the countryside, seaside and the mountains. A dream town.