Dax, Landes

Dax

Fontaine chaude

Coat of arms

Dax

Location within Aquitaine region

Dax

Coordinates: 43°43′N 1°03′W / 43.71°N 1.05°WCoordinates: 43°43′N 1°03′W / 43.71°N 1.05°W

Country

Dax

Dax

Grand Dax

Government

• Mayor (2008–2014])

Gabriel Bellocq

Area¹

19.70 km² (7.61 sq mi)

Population (1999)²

19,515

• Density

990/km² (2,600/sq mi)

INSEE/Postal code

40088 / 40100

Elevation

2–46 m (6.6–150.9 ft)
(avg. 9 m or 30 ft)

¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

² Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Dax (French pronunciation: [daks]; Dacs in Occitan) 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.

Place de la cathédrale.

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 as a renowned spa site.

Main sights

Roman archaeological crypt, including the foundations of a Roman temple from the second century AD.
Remains of the Gallic-Roman walls (4th century)
Cathedral of Notre-Dame Ste-Marie
Church of Saint-Vincent-de-Xaintes.
Fontaine Chaude ("Hot Fountain").