The Monnaie square

The Place de la Monnaie, in Pau

The Place de la Monnaie, below the Château de Pau, offers an excellent overall view of the building. The Pau audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this belvedere that reveals the different eras of the castle and the setting of the town.

The viewpoint over the eras of the castle

The Place de la Monnaie, located below the Château de Pau, is an ideal viewpoint to take in the monument in a single glance. From here, you distinguish perfectly the different eras that the castle went through over its history: the medieval parts, vestiges of the primitive fortress, the elegant additions of the Renaissance, and the restorations of the nineteenth century, which partly gave it its current appearance. This distance allows you to read the evolution of the building and to appreciate its silhouette dominating the town and the gave. Its name evokes the former mint that was once located in this area, at the time when Béarn and Navarre struck their own coin, a sign of their autonomy. The Place de la Monnaie is a privileged belvedere over the symbol of Pau.

What to see

Here you enjoy the excellent overall view of the castle, which allows you to read its different eras, from the medieval parts to the Renaissance additions and the restorations of the nineteenth century, dominating the town and the gave; the name of the square recalls the former mint of Béarn and Navarre. The Place de la Monnaie is a privileged belvedere of Pau. It is a must-see stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Place de la Monnaie lies below the Château de Pau, reachable on foot. It is an open-air public space, freely accessible, which offers a fine view of the castle. You discover it during a walk around the monument.

What can you see from the Place de la Monnaie in Pau?

An excellent overall view of the castle, which allows you to distinguish its different eras: the medieval parts, the Renaissance additions and the restorations of the nineteenth century, dominating the town and the gave.

Where is the Place de la Monnaie in Pau?

Below the Château de Pau, in France.