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.[4] 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 (19 mi) from the Atlantic Ocean and 42 km (26 mi) 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
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±% p.a.
1793
3,391
—
1800
3,398
+0.03%
1806
3,179
−1.10%
1821
4,948
+2.99%
1831
4,716
−0.48%
1836
4,776
+0.25%
1841
5,842
+4.11%
1846
5,615
−0.79%
1851
5,805
+0.67%
1856
6,125
+1.08%
1861
9,856
+9.98%
1866
9,469
−0.80%
1872
9,062
−0.73%
1876
10,250
+3.13%
1881
10,218
−0.06%
1886
10,858
+1.22%
1891
10,240
−1.17%
1896
10,196
−0.09%
1901
10,329
+0.26%
Year
Pop.
±% p.a.
1906
11,210
+1.65%
1911
11,387
+0.31%
1921
11,047
−0.30%
1926
12,385
+2.31%
1931
12,663
+0.44%
1936
13,056
+0.61%
1946
14,113
+0.78%
1954
14,557
+0.39%
1962
17,051
+2.00%
1968
19,348
+2.13%
1975
19,137
−0.16%
1982
18,648
−0.37%
1990
19,309
+0.44%
1999
19,515
+0.12%
2007
20,860
+0.84%
2012
20,364
−0.48%
2017
20,681
+0.31%
2019
20,843
+0.39%
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The US Daxrugby 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.