Château de Pau

First and foremost a military structure, it is a typical fortified castle built on top of the hill overlooking the Gave bounded by the Hédas ravine.

The fourteenth century was troublesome as the region was torn between the competing claims of the powerful warring enemy kingdoms of France and England.

He greatly reinforced the fortress's defences and added a new 33-metre-high brick tower, defiantly inscribed in Béarnaise: "Febus me fe" (Fébus made me).

But the real recognition of the King is posthumous, and the castle that he was born in was soon forgotten, except to unite Navarre and Béarn with the Kingdom of France (for which Louis XIII signed the treaty in 1620).

Louis-Philippe, who would combine the ideals of the Revolution and those of the monarchy, had the idea of restoring the castle of the man who reconciled Catholic and Protestant into a royal residence.

In order that this castle should retain its character, Henricians placed there many neo-Renaissance and neo-Gothic objects, and a collection of tapestries (16th - 19th century), to recall the halcyon days of the good king.