The Pau Castle Museum was founded at the beginning of the 20th century and has the status of a national museum. It is dedicated in particular to the history of Henri IV, King of France and Navarre, who was born there in 1553.
Now located in the heart of the city, the original castle was built by the princes of Béarn in the 12th century. century and made it possible to monitor a ford on the Gave.
Reinforced by Gaston Fébus in the 14th century, the castle became the main residence of the princes in 1464 and the whole was then profoundly altered in a Renaissance style. Its vast park is also embellished. From the 17th century, the province being integrated into the kingdom, the domain lost its importance but in the 19th century, when the "myth of the good king Henri" was anchored, the whole was renovated and restructured under the reigns of Louis- Philippe and Napoleon III.
The museum visit now includes the visit of interiors with exceptional decor. The collection fund is rich with 12,000 works and objects. One distinguishes there the furniture and the decorations of the apartments, the objects related to the functioning of the palace (kitchen, washrooms) and the sets of works made up around the figure of Henri IV, like representations of the castle of Pau (paintings, graphic arts, sculptures, etc.).
One of the great treasures of these collections is the sets of tapestries from the 17th and 18th centuries, most of which were woven at the Manufacture des Gobelins in Paris, which were transferred to Pau in the 19th century, to reconstitute a Renaissance-inspired decor.
The life, reign and posterity of King Henry IV also occupy an important place.
The 22 hectares of the park and the Maison Baylaucq (18th century) dedicated to artist residencies and temporary exhibitions complete the ensemble.
Free access to the gardens all year round. The castle museum is open every day except January 1, May 1 and December 25. Guided tours, workshops, activities for young people are regularly offered. Price: from 5.50 and 7 euros. Information on +33 5 59 82 38 00.
