The secret of the Castle
The Spa-Francorchamps Circuit hides a secret that all visitors must see. Especially for those who are only focused on racing, Because this is a pausa in the race. Only 20 kilometers by car, or on an incredible one-hour bicycle route through meadows, you can discover the heart of this secret. Because this place in Spa-Francorchamps takes you to the past as if you were in a time machine. Peace, silence, forest, birdsong and the sound of the wind. You feel in the Belgian medieval age. For history lovers and for those who love to visit places that keep secrets – yes or yes – you have to go to Chateau de Reinhardstein. Also known as Burg Matternich, it was built in 1354, it is believed to be built on a Gallo-Celtic fortification. It was Wenceslas of Luxembourg who granted permission for its construction to Renaud de Waimes. The castle was in German territory, but after being bombed in the First World War, this area was yielded to Belgium. Once the conflict was over, it was inherited for generations, passing through different owners of the Waimes family, until it became extinct. It then became the property of the Metternich family, until the French Revolution, when the property was seized and returned by France to the State of Belgium at the end of the 18th Century. The secret of the surrounding people was that there was a hidden treasure, so they began to deteriorate and destroy the construction. It was in 1965, when university professor Jean Overloop decided to discover and recover the castle in Spa-Francorchamaps. He lived in it until his death. Today it is private property, but you can enter with a guided tour at a price of 12 euros per person.
A bath in golden liquid
In Belgium, after returning to the future, in this time machine, there is time to relax completely in Spa-Francorchamps. It’s time to explore something different, because at Spa-Francorchamps, beer is not only drunk, but we can also take a beer bath and relax our bodies immersed in this Belgian elixir. Or better, drink a very cold Belgian beer, but immersed in it, at a bubbling temperature of 35 degrees. There is a trend in this area of Belgium, derived from wellness and the rejuvenating, relaxing benefits and with a high peeling content to purify the skin. Beer contains all the important B vitamins, plus vitamins A, D and E. In Belgium, these are Beerland and Beerspa, two brands that offer in Spa-Francorchamps, a one-hour session and two pints of beer for 40 euros. I wouldn’t even think about it. I am already there to explore this top attraction in Belgium. To eat, my recommendations are: Cote Proche, to try their specialty, which is baked duck. At Le Gastromme, the number one dish is the vegetarian quiche. At Le Coin des Saveurs, try the variety of desserts and the best coffee in Spa-Francorchamps. On weekdays, you can find a lunch menu, per person, between 17 and 24 euros. Don’t forget to eat, to have energy, discover and explore all these top attractions.
You must have to visit the Circuit Museum
To close the day and not to leave aside your passion of Motorsport, which is finally what we came for – it is essential to go to the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit Museum, one of the top activities to do there. Located in the town of Savelot, just 10 kilometers from where the racing engines roar, this museum is built in the heart of the Savelot Abbey. To access it, we must enter through some medieval porticoes and go down to some catacombs. Therein lies the surprise. Hundreds of cars, parked next to each other, illuminated in a very chic style with that characteristic background that gives us a brick from the year 661 exposed to darkness and light. A marvel. For the most knowledgeable, for example there is The FN Grand Prix, winner of the Copa del Rey in the 24 Hours of Spa in 1925. Currently it is still in perfect condition. The Motorbike Prototype of 1986. The Ford Capri, winner of the 1979 24 hours, driven by the Martin brothers. Alain Prost’s Ferrari 641. The 1968 Porsche 910 – 6 cylinder driven in Spa by Hans Hermann. And one of the museum’s jewels, the Ferrari 365GTB4 “Daytona” V12, among more than 500 models that we cannot discover in this blog, you have to go there. The entrance costs 10 euros and the visit lasts approximately one hour. Children under six years old enter have free access in all Belgium museums.
Sleep under the light of the stars
In Belgium, the hotel offer is very wide, specially in Spa-Francorchamps. From the option of renting an apartment for a large family, at more affordable prices, between 80 and 200 euros per day. Even the opportunity to enjoy a five-star hotel with all the luxuries and comforts, for 500 euros per night. Yes, it is necessary and recommended that reservations be made well in advance, especially on race days, since there is a lot of demand. Another option is to visit Spa-Francorchamps in a caravan, and be able to sleep under the light of the stars and discover one of the best attractions of this area, nature, its forests, flora and fauna. There are about 50 campsites very well located near important towns and cities, which the children will undoubtedly appreciate very much. For all this, Spa-Francorchamps is one of the destinations in Europe that best combines motor sports, history, nature and family.
