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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

La Fontaine Chaude, also known as the source of La Nèhe, is a Gallo-Roman vestige located in the centre of Dax. Symbol of local thermalism, it flows at 64°C with a daily flow of 2.4 million litres. Its water, rich in trace elements, has been known since Antiquity for its therapeutic virtues, particularly in rheumatology and gynaecology. Legend has it that a Roman legionary discovered its benefits by finding his dog, cured of rheumatism after being rolled into the thermal mud.

The current fountain, built between 1814 and 1818 under Louis XVIII, adopts a Tuscan neo-classical style inspired by the Roman baths. It was built on the remains of ancient 4th century thermal baths, revealed by polls in 1976. Its pentagonal basin, surrounded by a portico, is decorated with taps shaped like roaring lions. Classified as a historical monument in 1988 for its ancient and medieval elements, it was completely renovated between 2000 and 2003 after decades of degradation.

The water of the Chaude Fountain, from a Pyrenean fault, comes from rains infiltrated in the Aquitaine Basin. Enriched with mineral salts and heated by the depths, it now feeds the thermal establishments of Dax, the first spa in France. Its silt, mixed with local algae, is also used to produce the Dax Peloid, a natural medicine used in therapy.

Over the centuries, the fountain has played a central role in everyday life: butchers and housewives used to cook thanks to its natural heat. His name pays tribute to Nèhe (or Nehalénia), the Celtic goddess of living waters, highlighting his mythological and historical heritage. Despite its modest appearance, it embodies the alliance between ancient heritage and still perennial thermal traditions.

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