Pau Christmas Market

In Pau, you can go from a Christmas chalet to a panorama over 100 kilometres of peaks just by crossing a street. The Christmas market sits at the foot of Henri IV’s château, a stone’s throw from the Boulevard des Pyrénées, the long terrace where the range unfolds from the Pic du Midi de Bigorre to the Pic d’Anie, with the Pic du Midi d’Ossau standing out behind. The capital of Béarn has plenty going for it once the chalets light up and the cold air coming down from the mountains makes every bowl of garbure taste better.

Pau Christmas market across four squares in the town centre

The Pau edition does not fit on a single square. It spreads over four sites in the heart of town: Place Clemenceau, the centre of the whole set-up, the Allées d’Aragon, the Esplanade de Vigny and the southern end of Place Royale. More than 40 traders set up their chalets there, between local food and crafts, from 28 November 2025 to 4 January 2026 in the 2025-2026 edition.

Place Royale hosts the Village Enchanté, with its staged forest, large transparent bubbles and Santa’s house for the little ones. A tree of around twelve metres stands over the southern end of the square, fitted with a dynamic lighting system that puts on a short three-minute show at 6pm on 24 and 31 December. Just enough to give a family stroll some rhythm without overdoing it.

For the 2026 edition, the town has already fixed the dates: the market will be back from 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, on the same squares. A useful marker if you are planning a stay well ahead.

Ferris wheel, lights and Béarn treats

The Ferris wheel goes up in Square Georges V and climbs above the rooftops for a view over illuminated Pau, the château and, on a clear day, the outline of the Pyrenees. A ride stays affordable, a few euros per person, and makes a good excuse to gain some height at sunset. All around, the Festival des Lumières dresses the façades and monuments, with a highlight in mid-December.

On the food side, Béarn is playing at home. Steaming garbure, the thick soup of vegetables, duck confit and ham, keeps you warm between two rows of chalets. Gâteau à la broche, cooked slowly in front of the fire and ridged like a tree trunk, is eaten in golden slices. You will also come across Ossau-Iraty, the emblematic ewe’s milk cheese, and the famous poule au pot so dear to Henri IV, not forgetting Jurançon, the white wine from the neighbouring hillsides, dry or sweet depending on your mood. For the hot glass that goes with an evening stroll, a good mulled wine recipe (in French) does the rest.

Getting there and planning your visit

Pau is easy to reach by train, with services to the station from Bordeaux, Toulouse and Paris. And here is an asset few towns can claim: a free funicular links the station forecourt to the town centre in 90 seconds, right opposite the château, and spares you the climb on foot. It runs from the morning until the evening. By car, several car parks surround the centre, including the one under Place Clemenceau, beneath the market itself.

Allow a short half-day to go round the four sites without rushing, keeping the end of the day for the illuminations and the Ferris wheel. Entry to the markets is free; only some of the entertainment is charged for. The town centre is broadly accessible for pushchairs and people with reduced mobility, as the squares are flat and pedestrianised.

If you are extending your trip through south-west France, Bordeaux Christmas market and the one in Toulouse round off a festive loop between the Garonne and the Pyrenees nicely.