Anyone been to Pau? (1 Viewer)

[Sue]

We are planning to stay around Pau in July to watch the Tour de France stage. Anyone been to this area? Any recommendations of whre to stay. We will go about 4 days before the stage,and hope to park roadside when the tour goes through, but we don't know the area, so if anyone does...please help!

 

[Neckender]

We stop on the pau aire regularly overnight on our way to Benidorm, it's a large car park in the centre of Pau lots of Motorhomes stay there.

John.

 

[StanandShirley]

Two car parks and camp site close to each other, but guess you will have to be there well before four days to get a good position. Enjoy

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[Taran_Las]

I go to Pau every year for the Grand Prix & Historic Grand Prix. Although the aire in the centre of town is officially closed the police turn a blind eye whenever there is a major event taking place. There are no facilities other than a free toilet. You must arrive a few days early to secure a parking place as it's very busy during the day. It's located at Place de Verdun (here). I have also used a small (very laid back) campsite called Les Sapins (here) approx. 6 kms east (towards Tarbes D817). There is a bus stop 100 metres from the campsite but the bus doesn't run on a Sunday. Handy supermarket opposite the bus stop.

 

[cliffanger]

The whole area is beautiful. We stayed at Navarrenx and visited Pau, Oleron St. Marie, Lourdes, St John de Luz, Biarritz, St Jean Pied a Port and lots of other little towns and villages. We went up into the foothills of the Pyrenees to watch the Tour de France as well.

We did this in a caravan so had the car but @Popeye visited the area last September on our recommendation so he will be along soon to tell you all about touring the area in a motorhome!

 

[Popeye]

We did in deed visit all those places but stayed in the mountain range for the entire crossing toward the med and didn't ever get to the larger towns or cities like Pau. That journey through the mountains was certainly one of the main highlights of last years tour.

Will be doing something similar this year. Sorry Sue, not much help I'm afraid but it looks like Phil @Taran_Las has the answer. You can always rely on Phil (for his cooking if nothing else)

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[jemhorn]

If you play golf then Pau has the oldest golf course in France. A little gem. We went on a weekend break and stayed at www.closmirabel.com. Not a MH site but set in an area that sits high above Pau an area to head for to take in the beautiful views

 

[gus-lopez]

I drive around it on the way to the UK Only ever stopped in Oloron or on the way to Langon.

 

[WillinFrance]

Great place Pau, The Grand Prix and Historic are well worth visiting. Plenty to see in and around Pau.
Living only 30 mins away, never had to stay there, but if you want to watch a stage of Le Tour, make sure you plan well, as all the roads on the route close 5/6 hours before the tour passes through. Pau has a stage finish and start, so should be interesting and full of atmosphere for a few days. But will be very busy.
No road route published yet, but will watch it on route to Peyragudes.

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[colyboy]

About May the official TDF programme comes out (the one in the yellow box is best) you will find the exact route and almost exact times when they will be passing places on route during the stages in the Pau area. We are regular followers of the TDF and will be in that area this year. Don't worry about parking so long as you are off the tarmac road the Gendarmes will not bother you. Get as close as you can (you may have to walk a little way) to the top of your chosen mountain we normally get there 2 to 3 days before. Enjoy the atmosphere we will be flying our Devon & MHF flags, but will not be knocking the riders off !!. Look out for Hymer and the Devon flag we could meet up.

Colyboy

 

[Sue]

We did in deed visit all those places but stayed in the mountain range for the entire crossing toward the med and didn't ever get to the larger towns or cities like Pau. That journey through the mountains was certainly one of the main highlights of last years tour.

Will be doing something similar this year. Sorry Sue, not much help I'm afraid but it looks like Phil @Taran_Las has the answer. You can always rely on Phil (for his cooking if nothing else)

What are the roads like through the mountains? Do you have a big van

 

[Sue]

About May the official TDF programme comes out (the one in the yellow box is best) you will find the exact route and almost exact times when they will be passing places on route during the stages in the Pau area. We are regular followers of the TDF and will be in that area this year. Don't worry about parking so long as you are off the tarmac road the Gendarmes will not bother you. Get as close as you can (you may have to walk a little way) to the top of your chosen mountain we normally get there 2 to 3 days before. Enjoy the atmosphere we will be flying our Devon & MHF flags, but will not be knocking the riders off !!. Look out for Hymer and the Devon flag we could meet up.

Colyboy

Hope we see you there. We plan to park along the route, hopefully hilly section ...we think we will try to find a spot a good 3 or 4 days before..but new t this do not really sure what to do.

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[colyboy]

Hymer coach built 7.10m. Head for the mountains not the hills! Roads are ok!!! 2 to 3 days will be ok. But prepared to walk to the top for the best action.

Colyboy

 

[colyboy]

Can I high jack this . On my iPad "start another thread" has disappeared?

Colyboy

 

[Popeye]

What are the roads like through the mountains? Do you have a big van

Extremely Big Sue, some of the villages we happened upon brought folk out into the street to watch this crazy Eeeenglish-man drive this monstrosity through their tight roads.
Here she is, slightly less than 9metres but 3.5metres tall which stops us from using some bridges.

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[Sue]

Extremely Big Sue, some of the villages we happened upon brought folk out into the street to watch this crazy Eeeenglish-man drive this monstrosity through their tight roads.
Here she is, slightly less than 9metres but 3.5metres tall which stops us from using some bridges.

View attachment 146907

Wow...we have a dinky can compared to this.5.9 metres.(.this was taken at the dealers before we bought it.).......so we should be able to get through and up the mountain roads...fingers crossed

 

[Daz n Tina]

Extremely Big Sue, some of the villages we happened upon brought folk out into the street to watch this crazy Eeeenglish-man drive this monstrosity through their tight roads.
Here she is, slightly less than 9metres but 3.5metres tall which stops us from using some bridges.

View attachment 146907

Crikey, that looks like the old bus the fruit and veg man used to park up our street and selling his all and sundry from the back. You have tarted it up well.