The fame of the king, baby boy cradled in a turtle shell preserved by Béarn through the vicissitudes of revolutions, gives the castle, which did not see him grow up or die, a particular taste, and the right to claim the honor due those who give birth to supermen. But the real recognition of the king is posthumous, and the castle that he was born in was soon forgotten, except to unite Navarre and Bearn with the kingdom of France (for which Louis XIII signed the treaty in 1620). The restoration Louis-Philippe, who would combine the ideals of the Revolution and those of the monarchy, had the idea of restoring the castle of the man who reconciled Catholic and Protestant into a royal residence. The castle was a gilded prison in 1848 for the emir Abd El-Kader, conquered by France in Algeria. In order that this castle should retain its character, Henricians placed there many neo-Renaissance and neo-Gothic objects, and a collection of tapestries (16th - 19th century), to recall the halcyon days of the good King. Louis-Philippe, in exile in England, could never stay at this place which was visited by Napoleon III. It is the Renaissance portal through which one enters and which bears the initials of the royal couple of Navarre, founder of the modern castle. The national museum Then the castle became a presidential residence in the Republic. It is currently a national museum which houses the works preserved from the days of Henry IV and especially during the restoration made by Louis-Philippe. The collections are increasing every year around the Henrician theme. It currently hosts over 100,000 visitors annually, making it the most visited heritage site of the French department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques. See also List of castles in France Notes External links Musée national du château de Pau - official site Pau castle in the History of Navarre Châteaux in Pyrénées-Atlantiques Buildings and structures in Pau Historic house museums in Nouvelle-Aquitaine Museums in Pyrénées-Atlantiques National museums of France Castles in Nouvelle-Aquitaine Monuments historiques of Nouvelle-Aquitaine Royal residences in France