Hédas district

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The Hédas district, in Pau

The Hédas district is a historic and picturesque district of Pau, nestled in the hollow of a former stream. The Pau audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this unusual place, a green ravine in the heart of the town, become again a lively place of life.

The ravine of the former stream

The rue du Hédas, which stretches below, follows the bed of the former stream of the same name. Seen from the sky, you would clearly distinguish the street that winds through the town, following the course of this watercourse. This small river was formerly so capricious that it ended up carving a real ravine in the rock, forming a sunken depression. The Hédas was for a long time a popular and working-class district, where the water of the stream served craft activities. Today covered and developed, this unusual district full of charm, with its staircases, its bridges and its vegetation, has been rehabilitated and has become again a prized place of life, lively with bars, restaurants and terraces. The Hédas district is a picturesque and secret corner in the heart of Pau.

What to see

Here you wander in the unusual district nestled in the ravine carved by the former stream, with its staircases, its bridges and its vegetation, a former popular district rehabilitated and become again a lively place of life with bars, restaurants and terraces. The Hédas district is a picturesque and secret corner of Pau. It is a charming stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Hédas district lies below the centre of Pau, reachable on foot by staircases and alleys. It is a freely accessible public district; the bars, restaurants and terraces have their own hours. It is particularly lively in the evening and in fine weather.

Why is the Hédas district below in Pau?

Because it follows the bed of the former Hédas stream, a small river so capricious that it ended up carving a real ravine in the rock, forming a sunken depression that winds through the town.