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Pau
Pyrenees Atlantiques known informally as the French Basque Country is a combination of beautiful landscapes, a deeply rooted and vivacious culture, a fierce history and flavorsome gastronomy.
The capital city of Pau is located at the foot of the Pyrenees, and takes its name from the word pal, alluding to the stakes set up on the site chosen for the town.
From humble beginnings as a crossing on the Gave de Pau for flocks en route to and from the mountains, Pau became the capital of the ancient viscountcy of Béarn in 1464, and of the French part of the kingdom of Navarre in 1512. The town has also been witness to a rather turbulent past due mainly to its hardy Protestant ruler Jeanne d'Albret who provoked the Wars of Religion with Catholic Spain.
The centre of the town is perched on top of a hill with the river Pau at its base. In the city center, locals enjoy the view of the boulevard des Pyrenees against the landscape of snow-capped peaks of Vignemale and the Pic du Midi d'Ossau.
Due to Pau’s unique climate, the most striking characteristic of which is the stillness of the air, makes it a great winter health-resort in the present day.
Thus, a major year-round tourist magnet, Pau is renowned for its spas and winter sports facilities, as well as its lush alpine scenery also developed to suit other recreational activities with a uniquely British background since the 20th century like golf, horse-racing, fox-hunting, polo, croquet, tearooms and parks.
