Photo : D.R. - ACO

 

The resort in the south of Belgium had its heyday in the 18th century because of the hydrotherapy that attracted royalty from all over Europe, such as the tsar, Peter the Great. Unfortunately, a spectacular blaze destroyed downtown in 1807, ending forever the splendor of yesteryear.

Nevertheless, the name of Spa has continued on thanks to English-speaking countries where "spa" became a common name. It is also in the city of Spa that the Redoute opened its doors in 1763: the casino as we know it was born. The world's horse-riding enthusiasts, and more particularly of equestrian competitions, also know the name of the Ardennes town that gave its moniker to a form of obstacle, the Spa bars, consisting of three bars of different heights in a row.

Known for hydrotherapy since Roman times, the industrialization of the mineral springs began at the beginning of the 20th century, the year construction began on the circuit where a turn would get its name from those springs ("Pouhons").

Unlike Spa, Francorchamps is only known internationally as its name is attached to the former in the official toponym of the circuit. Originally a city of its own, Francorchamps is now no more than a section of the city of Stavelot (another turn of the circuit) since the merging of several villages at the end of the 1970s. But Mother Nature endowed Francorchamps with a valley whose mere mention brings chills to all drivers: the Red Water. All you have to do is see the river water's colour after a storm to understand the origin of the name!

On May 3rd, at the 6 Hours of Spa-Fancorchamps, second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the cars will take the short and steep slope of the famous Eau Rouge many times!

Cécile Bonardel / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO