Dax, Landes

Dax
Subprefecture and commune
La Fontaine Chaude
Coat of arms
Location of Dax
Dax Dax
Coordinates: 43°43′N 1°03′W
Country	France
Region	Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Department	Landes
Arrondissement	Dax
Canton	Dax-1 and 2
Intercommunality	Grand Dax
Government
• Mayor (2014–2020)	Gabriel Bellocq
Area 1	19.70 km2 (7.61 sq mi)
Population  (2015)	20,683
• Density	1,000/km2 (2,700/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC 01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC 02:00 (CEST)
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.

Dax (Dacs in Gascon) is a commune in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in south-western France, sub-prefecture of the Landes department. It is also the capital of the arrondissement of Dax and of 2 cantons in the department: Dax-1 and Dax-2.

It is well-known spa town, specialising in mud treatment for rheumatism and similar medical problems.

History

Dax was first established by the Romans, and its name was Civitas Aquensium. In the Middle Ages, it was administered by viscounts until 1177. when Henry II Plantagenet, later King of England, got the Aquitaine. Dax remained under the English rule until 1451, when it was conquered by the French troops before the end of the Hundred Years' War.

Geography

Dax is, in straight line, at about 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the beaches of southern Landes, 45 kilometres (28 miles) from Bayonne, 150 kilometres (93 miles) from Bordeaux, 50 kilometres (31 miles) from Mont-de-Marsan and 80 kilometres (50 miles) from Pau.

The commune has an area of 19.7 square kilometres (7.6 square miles), and its average altitude is 24 metres (79 feet); at the city hall, the altitude is 13 metres (43 feet).

Dax and its neighboring communes

The city of Dax is mainly on the left side of the Adour river.

Climate

The climate of Dax is Marine West Coast Climate (Köppen climate classification: Cfb), with mild winters and warm summers.

Population

The inhabitants of Dax are known, in French, as Dacquois (women: Dacquoises).

With a population of 20,485, Dax has a population density of 1,040 inhabitants/km².

Evolution of the population in Dax

Dax forms, with 12 other communes, the urban area of Dax with a population of 49,853 inhabitants (2013) and an area of 208.3 square kilometres (80.4 square miles). This urban area is the centre of the metropolitan area of Dax, formed by 31 communes, with a population of 64,937 inhabitants (2013) and an area of 520.4 square kilometres (200.9 square miles).

Administration

Dax is a subprefecture of the Landes department since 1800. It is also the capital of the arrondissement of Dax and the administrative centre (French: chef-lieu) of two cantons:

1. Dax-1, formed with a part of Dax and ten other communes, with 24,887 inhabitants (2014).
2. Dax-2, formed with a part of Dax and nine other communes, with 29,536 inhabitants (2014).

Twin towns

Dax is twinned with:

• Logroño, Spain

Sites of interest

• Cathedral of Notre-Dame Ste-Marie
• Church of Saint-Vincent-de-Xaintes
• Fontaine Chaude ("Hot Fountain")

People from or related to Dax

• Vincent de Paul (1581-1660), theologian born in a village near Dax.
• Jean-Charles de Borda (1733-1799), mathematician.
• Roger Ducos (1747-1818), politician.
• Paul Darbos (1990), Internet celebrity.

Gallery

• 
  Notre-Dame de Dax cathedral.
• 
  Cathedral square.
• 
  Bridge over the Adour river.
• 
  La Fontaine Chaude.

Related pages

• Arrondissement of Dax
• Communes of the Landes department

Other websites

• Ville de Dax - Official site (in French)
• General Council of Landes (in French)
• Prefecture official website (in French)
• Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine (in French)