Dax history

Foundation and the Ancient Period

The history of Dax is inextricably linked to water. Before the arrival of the Romans, this territory was inhabited by the Aquitanian tribe of the Tarbelli. However, the settlement formed as a proper city after the Roman conquest, approximately in the 1st century BC. The Romans, appreciating the natural wealth of the area, gave the city the name Aquae Tarbellicae ("Waters of the Tarbelli"), which over time transformed into the modern "Dax".

Key Factors of Formation

The development of the city was determined by a fortunate combination of natural and geographical conditions:

• Thermal Springs: The presence of hot underground waters became the main city-forming factor. It was around the Neus spring (La Fontaine Chaude) that urban life took shape.
• River Adour: Its location on the banks of the navigable river Adour turned the city into an important trading port and a strategic point controlling the crossings.
• Fortifications: During the Late Roman Empire (4th century), the city was surrounded by powerful fortress walls, parts of which have survived to this day, indicating its high administrative and military status.

Early Culture and Economy

From the very beginning, the economy of Dax was based on the health tourism of antiquity. Roman officials and military personnel came here for treatment in the thermal baths. There is a legend about a Roman legionnaire whose dog was healed of rheumatism thanks to the local river mud, which cemented the city's reputation as a healing resort.

Cultural life was typical for a Gallo-Roman city: temples, forums, and, of course, luxurious baths were built here, remains of which archaeologists find in the historical centre.

Key Milestones in the History of Dax

• 1st Century BC: The Romans found the settlement of Aquae Tarbellicae, appreciating the healing properties of the local hot springs.
• 4th Century: Powerful Gallo-Roman fortress walls are erected around the city, fragments of which have survived to the present day.
• 1152: Following the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine to Henry II Plantagenet, Dax comes under the administration of the English Crown.
• 1177: Richard the Lionheart takes the city by storm to suppress a rebellion by the local viscount.
• 1451: Dax finally returns to French rule shortly before the official end of the Hundred Years' War.
• 1660: The city is visited by Louis XIV, Anne of Austria, and Cardinal Mazarin on their way to the royal wedding in Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
• 1814: At the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the city is briefly occupied by English troops under the command of the Duke of Wellington.
• 1854: The opening of the railway line connects Dax with major cities, launching mass balneological tourism.
• 1913: The grand opening of the new bullfighting arena in the Théodore Denis Park, cementing the traditions of tauromachy in the region.
• 1929: Construction of the Splendid hotel and the Atrium casino in the Art Deco style, which became architectural symbols of the resort's "Golden Age".

Stages of Urban Development and Their Significance

The evolution of Dax is a journey from an ancient fortification to a modern leader in French balneology. Each era left its mark on the street layout, architectural appearance, and economic structure of the city. Here are the key moments that defined the modern look of the resort:

• Formation of the Antique Urban Core.
  The erection of Gallo-Roman fortress walls in the 4th century not only protected the settlement but also outlined the boundaries of the historical centre for centuries to come. Inside this perimeter, around the Hot Fountain (La Fontaine Chaude), a unique urban environment was formed that exists to this day.
• Establishment of the River Port on the Adour.
  In the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, the city's economy relied on river trade. The port of Dax was a vital hub for transporting agricultural produce, resin, and timber from Gascony to Bayonne and onwards for export. This contributed to the emergence of a merchant class and the construction of wealthy mansions.
• The Railway Revolution of the 19th Century.
  The arrival of the railway in 1854 radically changed the vector of development. The city ceased to be merely a regional trading point and opened up to a massive influx of visitors from Paris and Bordeaux, which required the creation of new tourism infrastructure.
• Art Deco Architectural Transformation.
  In the 1920s and 1930s, thanks to Mayor Eugène Milliès-Lacroix, Dax underwent a massive urban transformation. The construction of the Splendid hotel and the Atrium casino not only attracted an elite public but also gave the city its recognizable architectural style, which became the resort's calling card.
• Industrialization of Medicine and Balneology.
  In the second half of the 20th century, the city focused on a scientific approach to mud treatment (pelotherapy). The creation of centralized production of therapeutic mud and the modernization of sanatoriums brought Dax to first place in France in terms of the number of spa visitors hosted, making thermalism the foundation of the city's economy.

Architectural Eclecticism: From Rome to Art Deco

The urban appearance of Dax is unique in that ancient fortifications and luxurious 20th-century resort architecture coexist organically here. The city developed concentrically: from the historical core inside the fortress walls to wide boulevards and park zones along the river Adour.

Gallo-Roman Period (4th Century)

The fundamental layer of urban architecture that defines the layout of the historical centre.

• Style: Roman military architecture.
• Characteristic Features: Use of mixed masonry (opus mixtum) with alternating layers of stone and red brick.
• Landmark Object: Gallo-Roman Fortified Walls (Remparts). The preserved sections of the walls constrained the city's growth for a long time, forming dense development inside the perimeter, and today serve as a picturesque promenade.

Middle Ages and Classicism (13th–18th Centuries)

An era of religious construction and large-scale reconstruction of the city's main temple.

• Style: Gothic and Classicism (Baroque).
• Characteristic Features: Transition from pointed arches and complex decor to strict symmetry, colonnades, and domes.
• Landmark Object: Notre-Dame Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame). The building represents a rare symbiosis: inside, the magnificent Gothic Portal of the Apostles (13th century) has been preserved, whereas the main body was completely rebuilt in the late 17th century in a monumental classical style.

Resort Flourishing and Art Deco (1920s–1930s)

The "Golden Age" of Dax's development. Thanks to architect André Granet, the city received its recognizable facade, turning into a fashionable European resort.

• Style: Art Deco.
• Characteristic Features: Geometric strictness of lines, use of reinforced concrete, large glazed surfaces, decorative bas-reliefs, and mosaics.
• Landmark Objects:
  • Hotel Splendid: An architectural dominant on the riverbank, resembling a huge white ocean liner.
  • Atrium Casino: A building with an impressive inner courtyard and decor that became a symbol of the social life of that era.

Neo-Regionalism (Early 20th Century)

An architectural direction reflecting the region's cultural ties with Spain and traditions of bullfighting.

• Style: Andalusian (Neo-Moorish) style.
• Characteristic Features: White plastered walls, horseshoe arches, use of ceramics.
• Landmark Object: Dax Arenas (Arènes de Dax). Built in 1913, they brought the flavour of southern Spain to the appearance of the French city.

Distinguished Figures of Dax

The history of the city is inextricably linked with the names of people who left a significant mark on science, religion, politics, and sports. Here are the most famous figures whose destiny was intertwined with Dax:

• Saint Vincent de Paul (1581–1660)
  Catholic saint, reformer, and humanist
  Although he was born in a neighbouring village (now Saint-Vincent-de-Paul), it was in Dax that the future saint received his education at the Cordeliers College. He is known worldwide as the founder of the Congregation of the Mission and an organizer of large-scale aid to the poor and sick.
• Jean-Charles de Borda (1733–1799)
  Mathematician, physicist, navigator, and military engineer
  A native of Dax who made a fundamental contribution to science. He participated in the measurement of the meridian arc, which formed the basis of the metric system, and developed important navigational instruments. One of the city's main squares is named after him.
• Roger Ducos (1747–1816)
  Political figure of the French Revolution era
  Born in Dax. He reached the pinnacles of power, becoming a provisional consul of the French Republic alongside Napoleon Bonaparte and Emmanuel Sieyès after the Coup of 18 Brumaire.
• Maurice Boyau (1888–1918)
  Legendary rugby player and flying ace of World War I
  A national hero of France. Before the war, he was the captain of the Dax rugby team and the national team, and at the front, he became one of the most successful pilots. He died in aerial combat. The city's main stadium bears his name.
• Pierre Benoit (1886–1962)
  Writer, member of the Académie française
  Author of the famous novel "Atlantida". He spent a significant part of his life in Dax and requested to be buried in the local cemetery. His work was often inspired by the landscapes of the Landes.
• Raphaël Ibañez (born 1973)
  Professional rugby player and coach
  A modern sporting icon of the city. A native of Dax who started his career at the local club, he became captain of the French national team and one of the most titled players in the history of French rugby.