The Palois rush to unearth the latest treasures of the Continental Hotel

This is evidenced by the (long) queues that formed in the morning and early afternoon. The opportunity for some to take a look “for the last” time at this building built in 1914 and which has since been inseparable from life in Pau. “It’s funny, I walked past it for years and never went inside,” admits Véronique, her arms already full.

The editorial team advises you

Visiting Béarn for a few days, Etienne knows the Conti quite well having stayed there on multiple occasions. For him too, the moment is strange. “It’s funny to see the hotel already half empty,” admits this regular who came “for the first time in 1980.” “For a long time it was my pied-à-terre when I came to Pau,” continues this man, visibly moved by this closure: “I learned about it a short time ago. It’s sad, but on the other hand it’s good to open it like this one last time,” continues Etienne, who intends not to leave empty-handed.

Apartments instead

As a reminder, the Continental hotel was sold at the end of 2023 by the Touyarot family to the CIR group (Real estate catering company). The latter plans to develop 51 housing units divided into 12 T1, 13 T2, 17 T3, 6 T4 and 3 T5. A room intended for service activities will also be created on the ground floor. The closure of the hotel will also lead to the dismissal of its eleven employees.