1. A treetop adventure course in the Vert-Tiges forest
North of Pau, near the Domaine de Sers, you’ll find 15 courses of increasing difficulty in this enchanting oak forest. Suitable for intrepid families as well as thrill-seekers, the site offers a variety of treetop adventure courses, as well as other outdoor activities.
For a day out with friends or a team-building activity, archery tag is a game of speed and skill, similar to paintball but played with a bow and arrows.
The Vert-Tiges Forest also features a specially designed barefoot trail, allowing you to explore without shoes and stimulating your senses in the heart of nature. It’s an original way to rediscover the environment around us and reconnect with long-forgotten sensations.
For adventure seekers, Géotrack is a concept that combines an escape game with orienteering.
Remember to book in advance to ensure you can access the site at your preferred time slot.
2. A walk in the Bastard State Forest
Not far from the Vert-tiges Forest leisure park lies the entrance to the Bastard State Forest. Also known as the Bois de Pau, these 300 hectares on the northern outskirts of the town are a haven for biodiversity. This woodland, which forms part of the vast Pont Long moorlands, is managed by the National Forestry Commission. The site is also classified as a ‘Sensitive Natural Area’.
Come and unwind after a hard day in this rejuvenating spot, enjoying the wide, shaded paths. The full circuit is a 7 km route that you can complete on foot or by bike. It is not uncommon to come across the horses from the Domaine de Sers here.
A fitness trail of around 4 km is also freely accessible all year round on the site. Furthermore, the Bois de Bastard lies on the route from Arles to Santiago de Compostela.
3. A cycle ride along the greenway from Pau to Narcastet
This cycle route, starting from Pau city centre, takes you to the village of Narcastet in around 3 hours. The 17 km distance between these two points has an elevation gain of around 30 metres.
Setting off from the Eaux-Vives stadium in Pau, you’ll soon leave the urban area behind to cycle along the shaded banks of the Gave de Pau for around 8 kilometres.
By following the signposts along this cycle route, you’ll come across various points of interest, notably Pau Castle and the Gelos Stud Farm, established on this estate by Napoleon Bonaparte himself.
A little further on, do pause to admire the pollarded plane trees. The distinctive shape of these trees is the result of a traditional pruning technique from the south of France. The trees have been pruned several times to harvest the wood, giving them the appearance of massive trunks topped with finer branches resembling clusters of grapes.
4. A water sport at the Aquasports Park in Pau
This 5,000 m² water park is an exceptional complex recognised in sporting circles by leading international athletes, who come here for training or competitions. The artificial river and its facilities are also open to the general public for a truly unique experience.
The Stade d’Eaux-Vives in Pau welcomes families, groups and companies, offering a range of water sports activities. Try a tube ride that will give you a real thrill as you navigate the bends, eddies and 360° turns along the course. Hydrospeed may seem similar to tubing at first glance, but the immersion is more intense. You need to catch the current and steer through the waves as you descend.
Airboating and rafting are group activities carried out on board an inflatable craft steered using paddles. The activities are thrilling but safe, thanks to the supervision of instructors stationed at the edge of the pool.
5. Discovering Pau through a Terra Aventura geocaching trail
This new-generation treasure hunt appeals to young and old alike. Terra Aventura is a geocaching activity in Nouvelle-Aquitaine whose trails combine outdoor walks with the discovery of the region’s rich heritage.
This fun-filled world features little characters called the Poï’z, who invite you to join them on their adventures. To access the various routes, you’ll first need to download the free app onto your mobile.
You’ll then have access to over 600 trails in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, with different locations, durations and levels of difficulty. Select the ‘Pau, c’est royal’ route, then set off on your adventure by following the marked path and the stages. There’s no risk of getting lost thanks to the GPS coordinates.
Along the way, you’ll have puzzles to solve and QR codes to find in order to uncover the treasure. If you’d prefer an activity without a smartphone, simply print out the route map for your chosen route beforehand or pop into the Tourist Office to pick one up.
Photo: Flickr