Dax, Landes

Dax (Dacs; Akize) is a commune in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France, sub-prefecture of the Landes department.

It is known as a spa destination, specialising in mud treatment for rheumatism and similar ailments. Dax is also known for its bullfighting culture, especially during the August ferias, one of the most crowded festival events in France with 800,000 people attending over five days. It is also a market town, former bishopric and busy local centre, especially for the Chalosse area.

Geography
Dax lies on the river Adour, 30 km from the Atlantic Ocean and 42 km northwest of Bayonne. Dax station has rail connections to Paris, Hendaye, Tarbes, Bordeaux, Bayonne and Pau.

History
It was 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. From the acquisition of Aquitaine in 1152 by Henry II Plantagenet, later King of England, Dax remained under English rule until 1451, when it was conquered by French troops before the end of the Hundred Years' War. It successfully withstood a Spanish siege in 1521-1522.



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")
 * Château de Dax, former castle where is now

Sports
The US Dax rugby club founded in 1904 is an important historical team, as many other town in south west of France. Many famous French rugby players comes from Dax and its suburbs such as Pierre Albaladejo, Raphaël Ibanez, or Richard Dourthe for example.

Twin towns

 * 🇪🇸 Logroño, Spain

Personalities
• Maurice Boyau, ace of the First World War who spent most of his life in Dax

• Jean-Charles de Borda, mathematician

• Vincent de Paul, theologian born in a village near Dax

• Victor Denain, aviator and politician

• Roger Ducos, politician born in Dax

• Patrick Edlinger, rock climber

• Brigitte Lovisa Fouché, painter

• Laurent Fressinet, chess player

• Raphaël Ibañez, rugby player

• Christophe Lamaison, rugby player

• Émile Magne (1877–1953), art historian and literary critic

• Rudy Orea, footballer

• Patrick Pendanx (1975-), footballer