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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Pavillon des Arts is an emblematic building of Pau, built in 1831 on the side of the hill as a dove-bath establishment, a function he exercised until 1884. This building, which also included two rental apartments, illustrates the beginnings of Pau's urban development, which was then booming thanks to its attractive climate for an easy wintering clientele, especially British. Its original architecture was profoundly transformed in 1887 to accommodate a temporary casino, the Casino du Midi, which became a central place of local social life until the inauguration of the Beaumont Palace in 1899.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Pavillon des Arts was integrated into the major urban projects led by the engineer Adolphe Alphand, including the creation of the boulevard des Pyrénées. In 1907, architect Léopold Carlier remodeled it with a reinforced concrete frame, masking its original façade and connecting it harmoniously to the Place Royale. The roof of the building then became the panoramic terrace of this square, while its ground floor housed the departure of the funicular of Pau, inaugurated in 1908 to connect the high town with the station below.

The funicular, consisting of a mechanical tower, a single-track viaduct and a waiting rotunda, operated until 1970 before being modernized and reactivated in 1978. Only the rotunda and some mechanical elements date back to 1908; the rest was renovated in the 20th and 21st centuries. Ranked a Historical Monument in August 2023 with the Pavillon des Arts, this ensemble illustrates the architectural and urban adaptation of Pau to its tourist boom, between thermal heritage, worldliness and technical innovations.

Today, the Pavillon des Arts houses the Centre d'interprétation de l'architecture et du patrimoine, while keeping traces of its past uses (old houses, salons). Its restoration in 2010 was intended to make it a place for cultural mediation and walking, accessible by the funicular or a trail. Its architectural paradox—discreet from Place Royale but monumental seen from the valley—makes it a symbol of the urban and historical contrasts of Pau.

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