The capital of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, it is ideally situated 45 minutes from the Pyrenees and the ski resorts, close to the Basque coast (1 hour from Bayonne and Biarritz). Crossed by the Gave de Pau, its exceptional panorama from the Boulevard des Pyrenees made Lamartine say: "Pau is the most beautiful view in the world as Naples is the most beautiful view of the sea". At the end of the 19th century, its microclimate made it a popular holiday resort, particularly for the English bourgeoisie. Pau owes it the first golf course on the continent. A city of cultural and business tourism, it is also known for its basketball and rugby teams and its Formula 3000 car race. It is a very popular meeting point for horse races. Today, Pau is a major tourist destination in the south-west of France, where it is pleasant to stay and stroll along the Boulevard des Pyrenees and in the narrow streets of the castle district.