The charming, time-honored Ardennes town of Spa is the cradle and namesake of the wellness trend and the famous mineral water. The healing water has been bubbling here from 300 different springs for centuries. The expansion into a sophisticated spa and thermal bath took place in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The magnificent buildings from this period still dominate the cityscape around Place Royale opposite the idyllic spa gardens. The old thermal baths were built between 1862 and 1868 in the classicist style. It has been closed since 2004. A new, modern thermal bath above the city replaces it. It is a strenuous undertaking for cyclists, as it lies at the end of the short but up to 16% steep Côte d'Annette et Lubin.
Other sights and witnesses to a golden era include the casino and the Kursaal from 1920. The predecessor casino, Redoute, from 1762, was the oldest casino in the world. In 1770, a second gaming hall was built, the Vaux Hall, designed in the Louis Seize style. The former Grand Hotel for rich spa guests also dates back to 1762 and now serves as the town hall. The eye-catcher of spiritual architecture is the neo-Romanesque church of St. Remacle from 1885.
The picturesque Spa-Francorchamps racetrack with the legendary Eau Rouge curve, located around 10 km away in Francorchamps, is world famous. Motorsport history was written on the so-called Ardennes roller coaster. The races were once held on normal roads, but today these are closed and it is a permanent race track.
Getting there:
Spa has a train station and can be easily reached from Aachen and Liège with a change in Verviers or Pepinster.
The A27 motorway exit is just a few kilometers away above the city.