Spa
Spa is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Liège. It is situated in a romantic valley amid hills which form part of the Ardennes chain, 27 miles southeast of Liège, and 22 miles southwest of Aix-la-Chapelle. As of January 1st, 2004, Spa had a total population of 10,491 (5,006 males and 5,485 females). The total area is 39.85 km² which gives a population density of 263.27 inhabitants per km². The town is best known as home to the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, which hosts the annual Formula One Belgian Grand Prix.
The German Great Headquarters were established here in 1918, where consultations were held concerning the armistice and from whence the German delegates set out for the French lines to meet Marshal Foch and sue for peace.
According to some sources, the origin of the word 'spa' owes its roots to the municipality's famed hot springs—the town was frequented as a watering place as early as the 14th century. Other sources speculate that it may be an acronym derived from the Latin phrase Sanitas Per Aquas, or 'health by or through water'.
In its generic use, the term "spa" is used as a generic term for a place where water that is believed to have special health-giving properties occurs. This is usually a mineral or hot spring. It can also refer to a luxurious resort or resort hotel, usually one located near a special water source and/or offers hot tub or similar warm-water hydromassage facilities.
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External links
nl:Spade:Spa fr:Spa hu:Gyógyfürdő