Grand Prix de Pau Historique

*Pau, a British town?*
Genesis of the British era: It is at the beginning of the 19th century that the first subjects of his majesty the king arrived in Pau. Soldiers of Wellington Duke invaded the South of France. General Wellington was welcome with honours due to his rank, and a ball was given at the castle. The troops were appealed by the city of Pau and its pleasant climate. From then on Pau wasn't unknown in England anymore. Some thousands of foreign winter tourists came every year.	Example of a British villa in Pau
*Britons put their stamp on Pau!* The reputation of this city from the Bearn could from then on only rise. It was notably increased by the writings of Doctor Alexander Taylor (of Scottish origin) who praised the climate of Pau's healing properties. From then on rich British people came to settle down in Pau. And they brought their lifestyle too. They slowly moulded some districts in the British trend. Pau is the tourist destination in vogue; there are tourists from the US, Brazil, Russia… But the print let by British aristocrats in the city is the strongest. This way appear at the approaches to Pau the 1st Golf course of the continent (in 1856), St Andrew Anglican Church, and about 300 villas with sumptuous gardens! At this time Pau is the capital of climates, sport and society gathering.	Nitot villa
*Royalists pass the lead to Republicans:* In 1863 the advent of railway increased this trend. The town had grown more beautiful, became always more up-to-date, parks and gardens expanded and English residents planted exotic species, perhaps recalling their settlements. At the end of the 19th century the British preferred Biarritz and the Basque coast, and then Americans took over from then. They found in Pau a fashionable social life as far as many various forms of recreation: horse show, cricket, polo, golf, hunting and soon automobile sport. By the way W.K Thorn, who was an American already famous for his involvement in horse show set up in 1898 the Bearn Automobile Club. But it is in the History of Aviation that the Britons left their mark.	Nitot villa (detail)
*The end of Anglo-Saxon presence…* The 1st World war and its lot of pain put an end to this good period. Pau was marked forever by this "English" century and we can still admire many villas ornamented with parks and gardens that testify to this period. The old cemetery of Pau is also the occasion to notice that many members of this community chose Pau as last resting place (Dr Alexander Taylor, Henry Russel, considered as one of the founders of the "pyreneism"	Beaumont palace, ex Winter palace
*The English presence nowadays:* The Historic Grand Prix of Pau is the occasion to see a great number of British participants (about 60%), but Pau is also a tourist destination of best quality for them. The advent of low-fare Ryanair Company conveyed in 8 months more than 40.000 British visitors in Pau in 2003. Growth future prospects for 2004: 715.000 passengers including 80.000 British tourists! So the term of "English" town for Pau is today still merited as well.	Gate of St Basil's English villa
*The mayor's speech:* To finish and as a conclusion is the speech of Andre Labarrere, our Senator, Mayor and ancient minister: "Everybody knows that Pau has been an English town. This holiday centre of more than 8.000 winter tourists has been laced with many splendid houses, a winter Palace (Palais d'hiver) and the St Louis' theatre, ensuring the European radiant-being of the capital of the Bearn. 135 existing English villas are protected so as to keep this wonderful heritage completely safe. olmolt. (Translation by J. VIVONA)	Certaines Hôtelleries paloises revendiquent leur "British Touch"