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Pau is a wonderful place to rent a car. Its fabulous location in the southwest of France makes it easy to explore a range of wonderful day-trip destinations in the region. Not only is it a great place to enjoy wintersports, it's also the perfect base exploring the Pyr'n'es Atlantiques d'partement. Hiring a car in Pau makes sense for many reasons. Not only do you have somewhere to store all of your sporting equipment, you also have your own set of wheels to take you from A to B. Independent of timetables and drop-offs, you'll be free to stop and start your journey wherever and whenever you like. The following is a guide to the best ways to spend your time in Pau.

Pau Mini Guide:

The town of Pau is situated in southwestern France and is the capital of the Pyr'n'es-Atlantiques d'partement. Pau is a popular destination with active outdoorsy types and has seen a huge increase in tourism in recent years due to the development of new routes to its Pau Pyrenees Airport by low cost airlines such as Ryanair.

Things To See/Do in Pau:

Pau is a playground for active thrill seekers, offering some of the best terrain in France. There's excellent scope for recreational activities like hiking and walking. The area's star attraction is undoubtedly the Boulevard des Pyr'n'es, a three quarter of a kilometre walk, which takes ramblers from the city's famous ch'teau to the Parc du Beaumont, an area offering stunning views of the mountains of the Pyr'n'es. In terms of cultural attractions, Pau offers plenty to keep visitors amused. A tour of the city's Pau Castle on boulevard des Pyren'es is definitely recommended, as is the Musee National du Chateau du Pau. Meanwhile, the Palais Beaumont is one of Pau's most beautiful sights. The elegant Belle 'poque building is situated in the heart of the city's Parc du Beaumont and is well worth a look.

Eating Out in Pau:

Given Pau's student town status, eating out is guaranteed to be cheap. Pau's dining out scene offers something for every one, whether you're looking to sample local delights such as wild dove, cepe mushrooms, ventr'che pancetta, coustou spare ribs or would rather something a little more familiar, you'll definitely find what you're looking for in the myriad eateries in Pau. If you really want to live like a local and get an authentic travel experience you should definitely go for the traditional options on the menu.

Day Trips/Events in Pau:

Let Pau act as a base from which to explore the picturesque surrounding countryside. Pau is convenient to a number of pretty towns and villages in northwest B'arn. Gavarnie makes for a particularly worthy excursion. The village boasts a number of attractions including The Cirque de Gavarnie, home to the highest waterfall in Europe.

Pau is the venue for a number of colourful festivals and events throughout the year including June/July's Festival de Pau, while L'Ete a Pau is constantly organising free outdoor music concerts across town.