Dax: A Dog's Tale

When he returned from the expedition, he was amazed to find his dog, who had been close to death, in fine form and high spirits!

This was how the curative properties of Dax's silt were first discovered.

The Latin name for the town, Aquae Tarbellicae, refers to these remarkable properties. When translated literally, it means the water of theTarbelles, taken from the name of the Gallic people who used to live in the region.

The town's main water source is Nèhe, named after a Celtic water goddess.
Every day, it produces 634,000 gallons of water rich in calcium sulphate, sodium chloride, and magnesium sulphate, at a temperature of 147°F.

The first Roman thermal baths were built at the Nèhe source and the town grew up around that crucial site.

The reputation of Dax's waters was so immense that the daughter of Augustus herself, Julia Augusta, came to enjoy them.

Aquae Tarbellicae was eventually shortened to Acqs, then became d'Acqs, and over the course of the centuries it evolved into Dax. The town of Dax became an important commercial crossroads between Bordeaux, Spain, and Toulouse.
In the mid-4th century, there were ramparts in the town.

This superb 6th-century mosaic, today located in the chancel of the Saint-Vincent-de-Xaintes Church, bears witness to the prosperity of the town during this period.

So it was only natural that this should become the bishop's residence.
Notre Dame Cathedral was built at the start of the 11th century. Remodeled in the Gothic style in the 13th century, it collapsed in 1646.
The current cathedral was rebuilt at the end of the 17th century, while the façade, which remained unfinished for a long time, was built in 1894.

Dax remained prosperous over the course of the centuries, and the wealth of its merchants is evidenced by the houses at its town center.

This house, with its richly decorated façade, has been restored with support from the French Cultural Heritage Foundation known as the Fondation du Patrimoine.
There is an agreement between the Fondation du Patrimoine and the town to help it preserve its urban heritage.

The Baignots, located outside the town ramparts, is one of the oldest bathing establishments in France.

Although the scholars of Dax may date it back to the 13th century, the first historical document attesting to its existence dates from 1568. It mentions open holes of muddy water.

The first building was constructed here in 1724, but its success really took off during the Second Empire, with the arrival—in 1854—of the direct train from Paris.
The Hôtel desBaignots was modernized between 1888 and 1901.
The pediment of the building, still standing today, displays the date 1894.

The treatments given in these establishments have moved with the times, and now thermal spa professionals provide various treatments for their visitors.

Thermal water and turpentine showers—blended from the surrounding pines—as well as the mud baths, wraps, and hydromassages are the most popular treatments.

The hot springs along the Adour have also been turned into an attraction. They appeal to people looking for healing treatments, but also just to onlookers, such as here in the Parc des Baignots.

After having welcomed numerous celebrities over the years, including Félix Nadar, Sacha Guitry, Georges Clémenceau, and General de Gaulle, the Les Baignots hotel and baths closed their doors at the beginning of the new millenium.
Today, the building has been renovated and turned into low-cost housing.

That same year, the Dax-Salin-Thermal business began running on the site of the old medieval fortress.
The first stone of this grandiose complex was laid by President Sadi Carnot.
It was destroyed in a fire in 1925.

It showcases Art Deco architecture, almost excessive in size, with its façades, roofs, reception areas, and interior staircase, all of which have been listed as historic monuments since 1991.

The trio of architects who designed the Splendid hotel also created the Atrium-Casino complex, which opened in 1928.
These leisure facilities restored Dax's reputation as one of the most prestigious spa towns in France.

Once again, the Art Deco style was in the spotlight, both in the former casino, which is now a restaurant, and in the auditorium.
It opened its doors to the public in the same year as the Splendid hotel, and in 2000 was also included in France's list of historic monuments known as Monuments Historiques.

At the beginning of the 1990s, the town decided to bring a new touch of modernity to its thermal heritage. To do this, it called on the services of a world-renowned architect Jean Nouvel.

The old thermal baths, too dilapidated to be renovated, were demolished in 1992, and the following year, a new hotel—Les Thermes—opened its doors.

The building's wooden shutters echo the pine forests of the Landes region, while the large, curved pergola pays subtle homage to its illustrious neighbor, the Splendid hotel, which is encircled with arches.