LA PLACE ROYALE
One of Pau's most emblematic squares, decorated with a statue of Henri IV.
Although not the largest, this square is one of the town's most emblematic. Construction work began in 1688, commissioned by the States of Béarn. Its initial surface area was small, and an imposing wall to the south masked the skyline. It was not until the arrival of Napoleon in 1808 that enlargement work revealed an unobstructed view of the Pyrenees. In 1843, at Louis-Philippe's request, the statue of Henri IV was installed in the center of the square, where majestic buildings such as Pau's town hall and the Hôtel de France stand side by side. Like the good society of yesteryear, people love to stroll around this square, where "dew falls like lime blossom" (J. Peyré).
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Members' reviews on LA PLACE ROYALE
La place est prolongée de l’autre côté du boulevard des Pyrénées par une esplanade où arrive le funiculaire qui relie la haute ville à la gare. Le voyageur a ainsi dès son arrivée un accueil … royal! Cette esplanade porte le Pavillon des Arts et est joliment fleurie.