Looking for the main sources of Spa (shortest)

In 2021, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee decided to add 'The great spas of Europe' to the World Heritage List. Spa, with its history of springs and thermal baths, is part of this list.

This challenging walk visits 16 sources (of the 18 - the other 2 are located on the heights north of Spa) of Spa ('sources', 'Pouhons') one by one. Another, XL version , visits all 18 sources in the area and pays even more attention to sights in the area.

There are also shorter versions (called Part 1 and Part 2 ), which together also cover all 18 sources.

This version here is the shortest possible walk to the sources. By starting in the centre of Spa and going clockwise there are 2 advantages: the walk is less steep because the 2 difficult parts, 'promenade Meyerbeer' and the 'promenade des artistes' are done descending instead of climbing, and 2 pleasant stops can be provided in brasseries Le Jardin des Elfes (after 4.5 km, continue to the Lac de Warfaaz) and the Source de Géronstère (13 km) . Worth mentioning is a possible stopover in Le Sunset at the airport of Spa (8 km).

Start at the parc des 7 heures.

The sources visited are , in order:

- The fountain in the eyes

- Pouhon with Arms of Austria

- Source Prince de Condé

- Pouhon Pierre-Le-Grand

- Source Wellington

- Source Marie Henriette

- Source du Tonnelet

- not accessible to the public: Watroz fountain in the park of the Foyer de Charité

- Source of the Sauvenière

- Source Groesbeek

- Source of the Queen

- Pouhon Delcor

- Pouhon des Vers/Pouhon des Artistes

- Pouhon Pia

- Source of the Geronstère

- Source of Barisart

A full list of sources can be found here: Parc naturel des Sources – Dico Voyage (dico-voyage.com) . The exact coordinates are shown by clicking on the colored number in front of the source name.

The walk is quite tough but it is beautiful because of the spectacular view of the swirling streams that plunge down and which we cross via several bridges .

The walk in broad outline:

Exploration of the parc des 7 heures and the centre of Spa with its fashionable buildings. Then via the Ravel to the sources near the Lac de Warfaaz. Stopover 1 - 5 km.

A long but not steep climb and along the promenade d'Orléans to the Fagne de Salmon with some sources. Possibility to continue a bit to Le Sunset at the airport. Descend via the promenade de Dolez and promenade des artistes and a bit of climbing along the promenade Meyerbeer along some sources to the Source de la Géronstère. Stopover 2 - 13 km.
Descend via the Myerbeer promenade and  along Source Barisart back to the start.

Be sure to also consult the information about the sights once you are there . They will explain what you will see!

02/2025