Spa is actually a city
If you enjoy going to the spa, you should know that the word is also the name of a city in Belgium, and this is not a coincidence.
The area and its thermal waters were first mentioned back in Roman times by Pliny the Elder, a Roman author, and philosopher. Throughout the years, as more kings began to stay at Spa, the city become more and more famous and in the 18th century, casinos opened.
The former queen of Belgium, Queen Marie-Henriette, also loved the place and spent her summers there until the end of her life, in 1902. But during the war, the city was occupied by the German army who transformed the main thermal baths building into a convalescence centre for injured soldiers.
Although the original ‘Bains’ building is currently under reparations, you can still enjoy the benefits of the thermal waters in the new Spa Thermal Bath, a modern beautifully designed building that oversees Spa city from above.
So what is there to do?
1. Especially if you are staying only for the weekend, it is a good idea to book Radisson Hotel. They have a good breakfast, right in the city center, a bar that stays open late, nice rooms, and the peak of it all, a private funicular from the hotel to the thermal baths. Of course, you can still get the public one, but it costs a bit, or walk through the forest up to the building.
2. The city is not very big, so walking around is easy and you are done in a couple of hours. Few shops are available if you are interested, and also a few restaurants and bars (do have some cash with you, as not all allow you to pay by card). And if you like fortune games, the casino is also available.
3. Go to therme! Book a full day or half-day and enjoy the thermal baths. You have multiple heated pools to choose from, inside and outside, a few jacuzzi pools, and relaxing beds, so overall a nice place to relax and enjoy a day with water fun. If you get hungry, no worries, there is a nice restaurant with a small cozy terrace, right next to the pools. You can always check their website to book your visit or see what activities they have for the days you visit.
4. A must-try is a coffee, lunch, or dinner at ‘La Brasserie des Bobelines‘ mainly because of its belle-epoque history and the modern touch it was brought to it today. The place has lovely fresh Spa water drinks – Spa is also the brand of bottled water, by the way – good food, drinks, and interesting design.
So, overall, visiting Spa city and its thermal baths is a nice weekend getaway, and sightseeing at the same time, Ardennes, the hilly and picturesque region of Belgium.