Foothills of the French Pyrenees in 5 days

A surfer’s paradise with the old-world charm, the once whaling town of Biarritz is a jewel on the Atlantic coast of France. Victor Hugo visited in 1843 and predicted the town would become a seaside resort. His prediction came true thanks to Napoleon III and his wife, Empress Eugenie who spent summers in Biarritz as a child. Old habits die hard; together with Napoleon III, they spent every summer here for 15 years.

 Pau, the city of snow and palm trees, is best known as the birthplace of Henry IV, king of France and the first of the Bourbon kings. He was born in Pau castle in 1553. Pau Castle is today a national museum with one of the finest collections of tapestries.  Pau itself impresses with its neat and elegant old town that attracted English and American visitors from the 19th century onwards.   

  The medieval town of Lourdes is today largely taken over by shops selling the souvenirs, candles and various paraphernalia for the pilgrims and visitors. But the town preserves its charm and enjoys a lovely setting in the foothills of the Pyrenees. 

  For a true enthusiast, Cathar region is a five-day destination in its own right. There are castles, abbeys and medieval towns to explore in the southwest region between Narbonne and Toulouse. 

Proudly the capital of the French Catalan region, Perpignan entered the world of fame as the mainland capital of the Kingdom of Majorca. The palace built in the late 13th century, is a reminder of the period. 

At the foot of the castle, the city is small enough to visit in a day, although be prepared. There are many events in the city that may persuade one to stay on.