Aire-sur-l'Adour

Aire-sur-l'Adour
Former market place in Aire-sur-l'Adour
Aire-sur-l'Adour
Administration
Country	France
Region	Aquitaine
Department	Landes
Arrondissement	Mont-de-Marsan
Canton	Aire-sur-l'Adour
Intercommunality	Aire-sur-l'Adour
Mayor	Robert Cabe (2008–2014)
Statistics
Elevation	68–176 m (223–577 ft) (avg. 80 m or 260 ft)
Land area1	58 km2 (22 sq mi)
Population2	6,070  (2007)
- Density	105 /km2 (270 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	40001/ 40800
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Sainte-Quitterie church.

Aire-sur-l'Adour is a commune in the Landes département in Aquitaine in south-western France.

It lies on the river Adour in the wine area of southwest France. It is an episcopal see of the Diocese of Aire and Dax. The nearest large towns are Mont-de-Marsan to the north and Pau to the south.

History

Aire (Atura, Vicus Julii) was the residence of the kings of the Visigoths. In 506, Alaric II drew up his famous code, the Breviarium Alaricianum.

Main sights

• Aire Cathedral, built in the 11th century but renovated in the 14th and 17th centuries.
• The Gothic church of Sainte-Quitterie is dedicated to Saint Quiteria, who, according to Christian tradition, was beheaded here in the fifth century. This church was on the pilgrimage route called the Way of St. James.

Personalities linked to the commune

• Florian Cazalot, rugby union player, born 1985 in Aire-sur-l'Adour

Twin towns

• Castro-Urdiales, Spain

External links

• History of CNES base devoted to launch stratospheric balloons
• Image of city's cathedral