All Saints' Day preparations in Pau

Pau in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques region is preparing for All Saints' Day, a traditional holiday in France where people visit cemeteries to honor deceased loved ones. The event will take place from October 26 to November 1, and local authorities are implementing several measures to manage the increased visitor traffic and ensure safety.

Cemetery hours and staffing

The Urbain and Bessières cemeteries will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the holiday period. Extra staff will be on hand to assist visitors, especially on the final two days of the event, October 31 and November 1, when cemetery visits are likely to be at their peak.

Free shuttle service introduced

To ease movement within the cemeteries, a free shuttle service using electric carts will be available. These carts will be operated by students and municipal employees, helping visitors navigate the grounds more easily, particularly during busy times.

Parking and traffic adjustments

Parking arrangements have been modified to accommodate the increased number of visitors. In the Urbain cemetery, barriers at the parking lot near the main entrance will be raised in the afternoons during the holiday. Nearby streets will also see temporary changes, with traffic restricted to one-way movement on specific roads to improve flow and safety.

Work suspensions and visitor guidelines

To minimize disruptions, certain construction and maintenance activities in the cemeteries will be paused from the week before the holiday until November 1. However, gardening and cleaning will continue until October 30. On the final two days of the event, only the placement of flowers, plants, and memorial items will be allowed, and visitors are reminded to keep pathways clear by removing any items that could block access between graves.