The history of Pau starts at the beginning of XIIe century, when its castle is evoked for the first time.

The village slowly believed, to become a city, then the capital of the Béarn at the 15th century. Henri IV is born to with it, before Béarn is attached to the royal Domaine. The city becomes chief town of the the Low-Pyrenees, then is industrialized with 19th and 20th century, initially with the aircraft industry, then that of the Natural gas.

Origins

The founded Castelnau on an unknown date, in second half of 11th or with the whole beginning of the 12th century, to control a ford of the gave which was used for the passage of the shepherds in Transhumance between the mountains of Ossau and the pastures of the plain Bridge-Length. A castle is built, dominating northern bank, at equal distance from Lescar, seat of the bishops and Morlaàs, capital of the Viscounts of Béarn.

The name of the city appears at the 12th century. In 1188, Gaston VI of Béarn joins together there its court majour , ancestor of the sovereign council. At the 13th century, Gaston VII of Béarn makes build a third turn.

At the 13th century, Gaston Fébus makes add brick a keep, an enclosure strengthened external with a tower of the Currency.

Capital of Béarn

In 1450, Pau becomes capital Béarn , after Lescar, Morlaàs and Orthez.

In 1464, Gaston IV of Foix-Béarn, after having married Infante de Navarre, transfers its capital from Orthez in Pau . The city is equipped with a communal charter; fairs are held there, just like the States of Béarn. It makes transform the curtains of the castle into home. In 1512, it becomes capital kings de Navarre then is equipped in 1520 with a sovereign council and a room with the accounts.

In 1527, Henri d' Albret, king de Navarre and sovereign lord of Béarn, marries Marguerite of Angouleme, sister of François I {{er}}: she makes transform the castle in the style Renaissance and makes create splendid gardens.

In 1553, his/her daughter, Jeanne d' Albret, is confined there of Henri de Navarre while singing as inhabitant of Béarn, so that the future Henri IV is “neither timorous, nor balked”. The lips of the future monarch are baptized with wine of Jurançon and garlic.

Wars of religion

The troops of Charles IX take the city, but Jeanne d' Albret takes it again in 1569. She massacres there the chiefs catholic S made captive with Orthez.

Catherine of Bourbon, sister of Henri IV, controls there the Béarn in its place.

In 1619, Pau revolts. Louis XIII occupies it and, in 1620, attaches Béarn to France and transforms the sovereign council into Parlement of Navarre, gathering the courses of Pau and Saint-Palate.

XVIIe and XVIIIe centuries

Pau counts a new enclosure in 1649, then a university in 1722.

Revolution and Empire

The October 14th 1790, it is declared chief town of the department of the Low-Pyrenees. This statute to him is removed the October 11th 1795 with the profit of Oloron-Holy-Marie, then definitively returned the March 5th 1796. Napoleon I {{er}} proclamation its interest and contributes to save the castle, a time become prison.

XIXe century: tourist city

In 1838, Louis-Philippe the fact of restoring with boldness, attempting to emphasize the characters medieval and Renaissance. Napoleon III adds a double turn framing a false entry, in the west.

After the Monarchy of July, between 1830 and 1914, Pau becomes one of the health resorts and sporting most famous of Western Europe. In 1842, the Scottish doctor Alexander Taylor (1802 - 1879) there recommends the winter cure. The success of its work is important and Pau becomes a vacation resort snuffed of the British. In 1876, one counts 28  there; 908 inhabitants. The English settle and benefit there from the first Golf of the continent, hunting for the Renard ( Pau fox hunt ) and of the races held on the hippodrome Bridge-Length. The boulevard of the Pyrenees, the sumptuous palate of winter - equipped with a palm house - and hotels of international class - Gassion and France - offer a luxurious and majestic framework to the concerts and receptions which proceed there.

Aeronautics

The first flights in balloon take place in Pau in 1844 and the first flights in Avion, starting from 1909, year during which the Frères Wright open there the first school of Aviation in the world. Pau accommodates only the seven world manufacturers of planes until in 1914 and becomes the world capital of aviation. The military academy of aviation, which forms the aces of the First World War, then the school of hunting of France, settle there. There fly the French Thénault, Simon, Codos, Bellenger, Garros, Nungesser, Guynemer, the Artigau Inhabitants of Béarn and Macé among so much on others and side American Lufbery, Thaw, Chapman, the brothers Prince, Mc Connell, among most famous.

Garrison town

Pau also sheltered the 18 {{E}} IH, 1 {{er}} and 18 {{E}} CCP (regiment of hunters parachutists) were stationed in the city. All took part in the various conflicts of the XXe century. The 18th CCP was dissolved in 1961, to have contributed to the putch of the Generals of Algiers. It had contributed before to the takeover by force of 1958 which put an end to IVe République. The 1st CCP was always of barracks in 1983 with the Camp of Idron when one of its elements was struck in Beirut by the attack of the Drakkar building, which made among its troops 58 victims.

In 1957, the exploitation of the layer of gas of Lacq, discovered in 1951, gives a new rise to the area. Pau strongly develops its cultural activities, sporting and university.

See too

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