Travel plan idea blog

Spa, Belgium vacation ideas: Grand Prix, Saint Remacle, healthy water, and more

"Spa" is a town in Belgium's Ardennes Forest. The town of Spa has pure, natural, iron-rich waters that are low in salt. The ancient Romans discovered Spa and its special water, "the purest water in the world". These days many buildings in Spa need to be restored but one can certainly find spa resorts and a few other tourist attractions.

With the right timing, you can also use Spa as your starting point to see the Grand Prix of Belgium at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. This race features one of the most difficult corners in all of Formula 1. September 16, 2007 is your next chance.

You still get to see some European architecture in Spa, like Saint Remacle, a beautiful grey-stone Basilica in the center of town. Inside it holds a large organ and some wonderful windows; if the sun is right, the light inside is wonderful.

Also in the town center, you can see the Spa Casino and "Les Bains" or the Bath House. It's not the only Bath House, but it is the most famous and you and I are not allowed inside (well I'm not - if you're rich and famous please leave us a comment and tell us what it's like in there).

You can visit Pouhon Pierre le Grand, the well where Tsar Peter the Great drank to improve his digestive system. It worked so well he gave the town of Spa a statue of himself to say thank you. Peter the Great also drank from Source Géronstère. The water here is rich in sulfur.

Posted by James Trotta at October 28, 2006 2:26 AM