Spa: UNESCO Spa Town, Thermal Baths and Springs

Spa is a spa town where UNESCO heritage, mineral springs and nature experiences come together to create different kinds of holiday days. As one of the eleven towns that make up the UNESCO World Heritage Site The Great Spa Towns of Europe, the town is aimed at travellers who want to combine relaxation, history and landscapes. Those choosing a holiday apartment in Spa can plan their stay around their preferred focus: thermal baths, springs, museums, walking trails or protected nature.

UNESCO history and distinctive buildings

The UNESCO World Heritage Site The Great Spa Towns of Europe developed around mineral-water springs. Its urban layout combines healing, therapeutic, leisure and social functions. This history is particularly vivid at the Pouhon Pierre le Grand. Here, visitors can see the nine-metre-long Livre d’Or by Antoine Fontaine, depicting 92 people who came to Spa for a cure. The building also houses Spa’s most productive spring. Its water is naturally carbonated, rich in minerals and high in iron. The building was erected in 1880 by Victor Besme; interactive displays provide information about Spa’s history and the spa town’s life today.

Smaller cultural attractions also make a distinctive impression. The Chapelle Leloup dates from 1672 and is considered Spa’s oldest monument. The Parc de Sept Heures was created as a public promenade in 1758 and contains numerous monuments. The church of Notre-Dame et Saint-Remacle houses an organ with two manuals, 26 stops and 1,642 pipes. Opposite the railway station, a 1,637-square-metre Pierrot mural also covers the Spa Monopole bottling plant.

Thermal baths, springs and trails

The Thermes de Spa offer 33°C baths filled with mineral water from the natural Clémentine spring. Admission includes access to 800 square metres of indoor and outdoor baths, saunas, hammams and relaxation areas with Wood light and infrared. Aquagym and underwater relaxation sessions with the Tibetan singing bowl complement the facilities. Advance reservation is strongly recommended for access to the baths and thermal leisure areas. Spa’s funicular provides access to the Thermes de Spa.

Those who prefer to discover the springs outdoors will find several independent destinations. The Source de Barisart and the Source du Tonnelet are located outdoors and freely accessible. The Source du Tonnelet has been visited since the beginning of the 17th century; its water is rich in iron and carbon dioxide at the spring. The Source de la Sauvenière is considered Spa’s oldest spring and is associated with a pilgrimage tradition that, according to tradition, dates back to Saint Remacle. Several walking trails start there, including the Promenade d’Orléans. The Promenade Meyerbeer connects the Barisart spring with the Géronstère spring via a path lined with cascades.

Nature and museums for varied days

For discoveries of the natural world, the Musée de la Forêt et des Eaux “Pierre Noé” presents the natural habitats of the Spa-Bérinzenne region. Immersive displays explore the Fagne, forests, springs, biodiversity, hiking, forest management and natural mineral waters. The Fagne itself is a large protected natural area with remarkable fauna and flora. A guided nature trail from the Source de la Géronstère leads through the forest to the Fagne de Malchamps and includes wooden walkways and the viewing tower at the Domaine de Bérinzenne. The park of the Domaine de Bérinzenne is freely accessible all year round from sunrise to sunset.

Other museums explore local history from different perspectives. The Musée de la Lessive traces the history of washing clothes from antiquity to the present day. The Mémorial Musée du Régiment covers almost 200 years of regimental history across 500 square metres. The Spa! museum – Musée de la Ville d’eaux is located in the former Villa Royale, the residence of Belgian Queen Marie-Henriette, and presents the history of Spa. The Eaudyssée visitor centre, which shows the underground journey of natural mineral water and the bottling lines, is currently temporarily closed for renovation work.

The right accommodation for your travel plans

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Spa, it is worth deciding on the focus of your trip in advance. For a stay centred on thermal baths and springs, the baths, the Pouhon Pierre le Grand and the various springs are the main attractions. Culture enthusiasts can combine buildings, promenades and museums, while nature days can lead to the Fagne, the Domaine de Bérinzenne or a guided trail. When choosing, compare the location of the specific accommodation with your travel plans so that your accommodation suits your personal mix of relaxation, culture and activity.

The Casino de Spa is also part of the local offering. It has nearly one hundred slot machines and hosts weekly cash-game tables as well as various poker tournaments. Access is reserved for people aged 21 and over who are not excluded from gambling; a valid identity document or membership card is required. For families or mixed travel groups, this age rule is an important difference from the cultural and nature-related activities.

Compare other destinations

If you would like to compare other destinations in addition to Spa, you can find them here: Bütgenbach, Bassenge, Nonceveux, Dison, Raeren, Trooz, Awans, Büllingen.

For the overview of the wider travel region: Liège.