Dax, Landes
Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox French commune
Dax (Template:IPA; Template:Langx; Template:Langx) is a commune in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France, sub-prefecture of the Landes department.<ref>INSEE commune file</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is also a market town, former bishopric and busy local centre, especially for the Chalosse area.
Geography
Dax lies on the river Adour, Template:Convert from the Atlantic Ocean and Template:Convert 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.
Population
Template:Historical populations
Climate
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 Template:Interlanguage link now is
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.
Twin towns
- Template:Flagicon Logroño, Spain
Personalities
See also
- Diocese of Dax
- Guiraude de Dax
- US Dax, a French rugby union club based in Dax.
- Dacquoise
