Note: Dax was one of the pilgrimage sites on route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, home of the shrine dedicated to Saint James, the patron saint of Spain. The symbol of Saint James, the scalloped shell, became the primary symbol representing pilgrims. French pilgrimage routes to Compostela tend to follow old Roman roads, many of which continued to be utilized as primary roads of communication during the Middle Ages. It was an ancient center for hot saline springs and mineral baths. Dax was a medieval capital of viscount of Béarn and the seat of an early bishop. Historic sites in Dax include ruins of city walls and the Cathedral of Notre-Dame.
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