Spa, Belgium
| Spa | ||
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| — Municipality of Belgium — | ||
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 Spa, Belgium
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| Coordinates: 50°30′N 05°52′E / 50.500°N 5.867°ECoordinates: 50°30′N 05°52′E / 50.500°N 5.867°E | ||
| Country | Belgium | |
| Region | Wallonia | |
| Community | French Community | |
| Province | Liège | |
| Arrondissement | Verviers | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Joseph Houssa (MR) | |
| • Governing party/ies | MR – cdH-OC | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 39.85 km2 (15.39 sq mi) | |
| Population (1 January 2011)[1] | ||
| • Total | 10,529 | |
| • Density | 260/km2 (680/sq mi) | |
| Postal codes | 4900 | |
| Area codes | 087 | |
| Website | www.spa-info.be | |
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Map of Spa, Belgium
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Spa (French pronunciation: [spa]) is a municipality of Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region and Province of Liège. It is situated in a valley in the Ardennes mountain chain, some 35 km (22 mi) southeast of Liège, and 45 km (28 mi) southwest of Aachen. As of 1 January 2006, Spa had a total population of 10,543. The total area is 39.85 km2 (15 sq mi), giving a population density of 265 inhabitants per km².
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History [edit]
As the famed site of healing cold springs, Spa has been frequented as a watering-place since as early as the 14th century. Though other sources of healing mineral springs have become famous throughout the world, it is the town of Spa which has become eponymous with any place having a natural water source that is believed to possess special health-giving properties, as a spa. Since the eighteenth century casinos have also been located in the town.
In 1918, the German Army established its principal Headquarters in Spa, and it was from here that the delegates set out for the French lines to meet Marshal Foch and sue for peace in the consultations leading up to the Armistice which ended the First World War. In July 1920 it hosted the Spa Conference, a meeting of the Supreme Council. German delegates were invited to this to discuss war reparations.
The town is close to the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, (actually today located in Stavelot) which hosts the annual Formula One Belgian Grand Prix. It is also the location of mineral water producer Spa.
Agatha Christie's fictional detective Hercule Poirot was born in Spa.
Spa hosted the finish of Stage 2 of the 2010 Tour de France on July 5.
Notable residents [edit]
- Georges Krins, a violinist on the RMS Titanic.
- Giacomo Meyerbeer, composer, completed here his opera Robert le diable in 1830.
International relations [edit]
Twin towns - Sister cities [edit]
Spa is twinned with:
Climate [edit]
| Climate data for Spa | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 4 (40) |
5 (41) |
8 (47) |
12 (53) |
17 (63) |
19 (66) |
21 (69) |
20 (68) |
18 (64) |
13 (56) |
7 (45) |
5 (41) |
12.4 (54.4) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −1 (30) |
−2 (29) |
1 (33) |
3 (37) |
7 (44) |
9 (49) |
11 (52) |
11 (52) |
9 (48) |
6 (42) |
2 (35) |
−1 (31) |
4.6 (40.2) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 97 (3.8) |
84 (3.3) |
79 (3.1) |
81 (3.2) |
80 (3) |
99 (3.9) |
112 (4.4) |
99 (3.9) |
84 (3.3) |
94 (3.7) |
99 (3.9) |
109 (4.3) |
1,117 (43.8) |
| Source: Weatherbase [2] | |||||||||||||
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ Population per municipality on 1 January 2011 (XLS; 322 KB)
- ^ "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Spa, Belgium". Weatherbase. 2011. Retrieved on November 24, 2011.
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Spa |
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