Hédas district

The Hédas neighborhood has quite a story to tell! Hédas Street, which stretches out below you, follows the bed of the former stream of the same name. If you could see it from above, you'd notice how it winds its way through the city. The Hédas ravine provided the viscounts of Béarn, living in the castle of Pau, as well as the inhabitants of the Old Town with a natural defence against outside attacks The stream supplied the town with drinking water. Its banks were used for grazing, and stones were taken from the river to pave the streets of the upper town. In the Middle Ages, the area around the stream was notoriously dodgy. Its particular geography was not very welcoming, and its narrow streets filled with cramped houses earned it the contempt of other inhabitants of the town. From the 16th century onwards, it is said to have been the venue for sword duels. During the Renaissance, what was seen as a defensive ally became an obstacle to be overcome, hindering the expansion of the town. When Louis XIII became King of France, the Protestant town of Pau was swept by the Counter-Reformation movement, and a number of Catholic convents were established in the town. Such was the case with the Cordeliers convent on the banks of the Hédas. Hence the name of the street you are currently on: Cordeliers street. It wasn't until the Belle Epoque that work began to fill in the stream. The installation of the sewer system in 1873 gave the waters of the Hédas a new breath. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was the turn of the Spanish, fleeing war, to settle in Hédas district, then nicknamed Little Spain. In 2017, the district was completely renovated. The neighbourhood is now home to a number of bars, cafés and restaurants, and has been turned into a centre for artistic creativity. Feel free to come at nightfall! You'll be amazed to discover the magnificent lights that have been installed. Enchanting works of art can be seen on the walls of this historic district, which has truly earned its transformation.