Nestled in the Belgian Ardennes, the town of Spa is the birthplace of the multi-trillion-dollar global wellness industry. Famous for its natural iron-rich mineral springs since Roman times, it evolved into the 'Cafe of Europe' for nobility in the 18th century, ultimately lending its name to the generic 'spa'. Who knew?

Under King Leopold II (he who exploited the Congo), Spa was heavily expanded and grand municipal baths (such as the palatial building that now houses the historic baths) were constructed.

During the First World War, Spa served as a headquarters for the German Army, and it was here the Kaiser abdicated in 1918. Following the global conflicts, the town experienced a steady decline in aristocratic tourism, forcing it to modernize and democratize.

Visiting today, like many spa towns which were popular up to the mid 19th century, Spa feels  like its day has passed, but the town continues to adapt. The grand baths has been converted to a 5 star hotel and a new spa complex was constructed in 2003/4 on the hillside above the town. At €35 for 3 hours, it's not cheap but offers a large indoor/outdoor pool, jacuzzis, sauna, steam and hamman rooms and an on-site restaurant. No photos inside the complex were allowed unfortunately.

Images of Spa can be seen here