The region

The administrative district of Verviers consists of 29 town councils. In this district, four tourist offices of eastern Belgium can be found which constitute the regional label “Ardenne Bleue”. These four are:

• The Herve region and its local products
• The eastern Cantons region, area for both carnivals and large woods
• Verviers, the “Water Capital” in
  the Vesdre region with its many heritage sites showing its wealthy past
• Finally, the Sources region, which brings together the landscape of Hautes Fagnes with the waters of Spa, the heritage of the Marquisat de Franchimont and with the adrenalin of the Spa-Francorchamps race circuit.

“Ardenne Bleue”: A combination of the beginning of the mountains Ardenne and the “blue gold”, the richness of water in the region. This forms the emblem of this region.

 

The region is the green lung of Wallonia. Only a few miles from the borders to Germany and the Netherlands, the highly touristic region of Spa, Stavelot and Malmedy offers, within arm’s reach, the full range for getting out and about.

 

Spa, sometimes called “Pearl of the Ardennes”, has a well-known past and experienced its prime in the 18th/19th century. At this time, Spa was known as “Europe’s coffee house”. Today, Spa, with its 300 mineral springs and wells is a modern health and bathing resort with ca. 11 000 inhabitants and a promising future.

 

All over the year various folklore and cultural events take place in the “Ardenne Bleue”, attracting ever more visitors: The music festival "Francofolies de Spa", which is famous far beyond the borders of Belgium, the Theatre festival of Stavelot and the procession of the Blanc-Moussins of Stavelot are only some of many other audience-drawing events. The calendar of Malmedy is also full of lively folklore events.

 

Even sport-fanatics do not miss out in the “land of the springs”: Apart from the world-famous Formula 1 race course of Spa Francorchamps with many spectacular events, there are countless hiking trails and mountain bike circuits, swimming pools, ski-slopes (ski touring and alpine) as well as centres for skydiving. Moreover, Spa has the Royal Golf Club, one of the oldest and most beautiful golf courses of Belgium.

 

Last but not least, Stavelot’s Abbey is one of Wallonia exceptional heritage sites and in the area around it Stavelot conserves all the characteristics of an 18th-century city: a majestic Grand Place, stone and half-timbered houses, ruins, small alleys and fountains.

 

Stakeholders

Regarding the regional and touristic development of Spa there are several important stakeholders:

• Local authorities and municipalities (Spa, Stavelot and Malmedy)
• Local tourism offices (Spa, Stavelot and Malmedy)
• The local development agency
• Touristic service providers: accommodation services, restaurants, other touristic attractions

 

Spa is coached by Eco-Conseil Entreprise