Musée des Beaux-Arts de Pau, Fine arts museum in Pau, France
The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Pau is an art museum located on Rue Mathieu Lalanne in the city center, housing over 800 paintings and more than 100 sculptures. The collection spans four centuries of European art history, from the Renaissance through the 20th century.
The museum was founded in 1864 by the Society of Friends of Arts and received its current building between 1929 and 1931. Architect Jacques Ruillier designed the structure that continues to house the art collection today.
The museum displays works from different European schools that span multiple centuries of artistic tradition. Visitors can see Italian, Spanish, Flemish, and Dutch pieces alongside French works from various periods.
The museum is near the city center and easy to reach; a 2019 renovation connected the space with the municipal library, improving visitor services. The modern facilities and thoughtful layout make for a comfortable visit.
The museum holds Edgar Degas' painting 'A Cotton Office in New Orleans' from 1873, one of his rare works depicting the business world. This uncommon piece shows Degas exploring a different subject matter from his well-known ballet scenes.
Location: Pau
Location: Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Location: Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Inception: 1864
Architects: Jacques Ruillier
Official opening: 1864
Address: rue Mathieu-Lalanne
Phone: +33559273302
Website: https://mba-pau.opacweb.fr/fr
GPS coordinates: 43.29769,-0.36450
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:44
Pau, the historic capital of Béarn, preserves notable traces of its royal past. The 14th-century castle, birthplace of Henry IV, overlooks the city and stands as the centerpiece of the local heritage. The Boulevard des Pyrénées offers views of the mountain range and connects several landmarks. The city maintains several museums, including the Musée des Beaux-Arts and the Musée Bernadotte, housed in the French marshal's birthplace. Religious buildings such as the Saint-Martin and Saint-Jacques churches, along with the historic Parlement de Navarre, document urban development over the centuries. The funicular railway, opened in 1908, links the upper town with the railway station district. Pau also features sports and recreational facilities including the racecourse, the Circuit Pau Arnos, and the national stud farm in the adjacent commune of Gelos. Parc Beaumont and the Forêt de Bastard provide green spaces within the city limits. In Lescar, a few miles away, a medieval settlement maintains its own historical character.
Funiculaire de Pau
718 m
Palais Beaumont
406 m
Église Saint-Martin de Pau
775 m
Église Saint-Jacques de Pau
629 m
Les Halles
418 m
Parc Beaumont
417 m
Pavillon des Arts de Pau
731 m
Hôtel de ville de Pau
615 m
Musée Bernadotte
654 m
Église Notre-Dame de Pau
619 m
Temple protestant de Pau
431 m
Horizons Palois
617 m
Chapelle Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague de Pau
207 m
Église Saint-André de Pau
671 m
Parc Beaumont
415 m
Hôtel de Bayard
636 m
Office de Tourisme
635 m
Médiathèque André Labarrère
434 m
Le Tour des Géants
641 m
Boulevard des Pyrénées
530 m
Bernadotte Museum
649 m
Musée de la Résistance et de la Déportation
249 m
Salut noble Béarn
369 m
Maréchal Bosquet
48 m
Chapelle du couvent des Réparatrices de Pau
573 m
L'Esclavage
345 m
The Spring
379 m
Fablab de Pau
228 mVisited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
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