Pau, city in southwestern France, capital of Pyrénées-Atlantiques Department. Built on a plateau overlooking the Gave de Pau Valley, it is a tourist center noted for its magnificent scenery and serves as a gateway to the Pyrenees. Manufactures include petrochemicals, electronic equipment, footwear, clothing, and paper products. Of note are a castle (now housing a museum of tapestry) in which Henry IV of France was born (1553); the house (now a museum) in which Charles XIV of Sweden and Norway was born (1763); and museums of fine arts and local history. The city is the seat of the University of Pau and the Adour Regions.
Pau was founded in the 11th century and was made the capital of Béarn Province in the 15th century. In the early 16th century it became the residence of the kings of Navarre. Population (1999) 78,732.
