Spa-Francorchamps visitor guide | guide
The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is the venue of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix and the Spa 24 Hours endurance race. It is located amongst the thick forests of the Ardennes in Eastern Belgium, in the town of Spa.
Designed in 1920, the circuit is considered one of the most challenging race tracks in the world, mainly due to its fast, hilly and twisty lay-out. The track is particularly renowned for one of motor racing’s most distinctive bends, the “Eau Rouge”, a steep uphill blind sweeping curve taken at full throttle speed.
The track hosts a number of race events for cars and motorcycles throughout the racing season and is home to three racing schools.
Test days are held on numerous dates throughout the year, when members of the public are allowed to use the track.
For those interested in learning more about the history of the famous circuit, the Stavelot Automobile Museum is located in the nearby town of Stavelot.
Stavelot is itself an exceptional heritage site and certainly worth a visit. If it takes your fancy, you could even stay overnight, and a good, mid-range option is the boutique Hotel Dufays.
The circuit’s location in the mountainous Ardennes means a direct route is out of the question. However, it is only an hour and a half’s drive from Brussels meaning your trip should not be too arduous.
For those wanting to fly, Brussel’s International Airport connects to various locations across Europe and beyond.
If travelling via the channel tunnel, you can pick up a hire car in Calais before making the 343km journey to Spa.
Alternatively, there is a train from Brussels to Spa, which requires a connection around halfway through your journey. From Spa there are shuttle buses to the track.
