Château de Pau

Château de Pau is a historic castle in the centre of Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, that now functions as the Musée national du Château de Pau. It is widely known as the traditional birthplace of King Henry IV of France.

The museum presents the room identified as Henry IV’s birthplace alongside state apartments, period furnishings and collections related to the history of the region and the French monarchy. Visitors can also access ramparts and terraces that look out over the city and, in good weather, toward the Pyrenees.

Originating as a medieval fortress, the site was rebuilt and transformed into a Renaissance residence in the 15th and 16th centuries and later adapted as a royal and national museum. It has been preserved and reinterpreted to present both its architectural phases and its association with Henri de Navarre.

Sited in the heart of the city of Pau, the château occupies a central promontory near the Boulevard des Pyrénées and is integrated into the urban fabric of the city in southwestern France.

• Birthplace of Henry IV: Traditionally regarded as the birthplace of King Henry IV of France in 1553; the château now interprets this history as part of a national museum.
• National museum: Operates as the Musée national du Château de Pau, with collections focused on the history of the Bourbon dynasty and regional history.

What to See #

• Birthroom of Henry IV: The room identified and presented as the birthplace of King Henry IV, preserved and interpreted as part of the museum collection.
• State apartments and collections: State apartments and period rooms restored to display Renaissance and later decorative schemes with portraits and historical objects.
• Ramparts and views: Ramparts and terraces that offer views over the city of Pau and toward the nearby Pyrenees on clear days.