Coordinates: 43°42′28″N 1°03′01″W / 43.707778°N 1.0502778°W
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Commune of Dax |
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 Fontaine chaude |
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| Location | |
  Dax, Landes
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| Administration | |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | Aquitaine |
| Department | Landes |
| Arrondissement | Dax |
| Canton | Dax |
| Intercommunality | Grand Dax |
| Mayor | Gabriel Bellocq (2008–2014]) |
| Statistics | |
| Elevation | 2–46 m (6.6–150 ft) (avg. 9 m/30 ft) |
| Land area1 | 19.70 km2 (7.61 sq mi) |
| Population2 | 19,515 (1999) |
| - Density | 991 /km² (2,570 /sq mi) |
| Miscellaneous | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 40088/ 40100 |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
| 2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
Dax is a commune in Aquitaine in south-western France, sub-prefecture of the Landes department.
It is particularly famous as a spa, specialising in mud treatment for rheumatism and similar ailments.
It is also a market town, former bishopric and busy local centre, especially for the Chalosse area.
Contents |
History
It was first established by the Romans, and its reputation is supposed to date from a visit by Julia, the daughter of the first Emperor Octavian Augustus. Its Roman name was Civitas Aquensium. In the Middle Ages, it was administered by viscounts until 1177. With the acquisition of Aquitaine by Henry II Plantagenet, later King of England, Dax remained under the English rule until 1451, when it was conquered by the French troops before the end of the Hundred Years' War. It successfully withstood a Spanish siege in 1521-1522.
Later Dax kept its tradition of a renowned spa site.
Main sights
- Roman archaeological crypt, including the foundings of a Roman temple from the second century AD.
- Remains of the Gaul-Roman walls (4th century)
- Cathedral of Notre-Dame Ste-Marie
- Church of Saint-Vincent-de-Xaintes.
- Fontaine Chaude ("Hot Fountain").
Twin towns
Logroño, Spain
Notable people
- Vincent de Paul, theologian born in a village nearby Dax.
- Jean-Charles de Borda, mathematician born in Dax.
- Roger Ducos, politician born in Dax
- Maurice Boyau, ace of the First World War who spent most of his life in Dax.
- Raphaël Ibañez, rugby player born in Dax.
- Christophe Lamaison, rugby player born in Dax.
See also
- US Dax, a French rugby union club based in Dax.
- Diocese of Dax
References
External links
- Official website (French)
- Dax Cathedral
- Dax Cathedral
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