Dax, Landes

**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  from the beaches of southern Landes,  from Bayonne,  from Bordeaux,  from Mont-de-Marsan and  from Pau.

The *commune* has an area of , and its average altitude is ; at the city hall, the altitude is .

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  inhabitants/km2.

**Evolution of the population in Dax**

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 bar:1999 at: 19515 fontsize:S text: 19,515 shift:(-15,5)
 bar:2006 at: 20810 fontsize:S text: 20,810 shift:(-15,5)
 bar:2014 at: 20485 fontsize:S text: 20,485 shift:(-15,5)

Dax forms, with 12 other *communes*, the urban area of Dax with a population of 49,853 inhabitants (2013) and an area of . 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 .

## 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 () of two *cantons*:
# Dax-1, formed with a part of Dax and ten other *communes*, with 24,887 inhabitants (2014).
# 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

File:Dax Cathédrale.JPG|*Notre-Dame de Dax* cathedral.
File:Dax place cathédrale.jpg|Cathedral square.
File:Dax-13.JPG|Bridge over the Adour river.
File:Dax-05.JPG|*La Fontaine Chaude*.

## Related pages
* Arrondissement of Dax
* Communes of the Landes department

## References
## Other websites
* Ville de Dax - Official site 
* General Council of Landes  
* Prefecture official website  
* Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine