Best Western Premier La Villa des Fleurs

The names of these hotel and resort could hardly be more self-explanatory!

In 1734, The Baron de Poellnitz published a hallmark book in the history of the town of Spa that for the first time listed not just the proven health benefits of his 20 natural springs, but everything the "art de vivre" in the resort was made of: its distractions, rituals and social events, as the title "Amusements" indicated. The publication spread throughout Europe and would wind up in the personal libraries of Marie Antoinette and Napoleon. In its own way, the Best Western Premier La Villa des Fleurs reflects this vision: a special place where high society openly enjoys the pleasures of luxury, frivolity and gaiety during the evening, while devoting its attention to health the next morning, always in an environment of sublime elegance.

Bearing witness to this elevated lifestyle are the casino (inaugurated in 1763, making it the oldest on the continent), balls, shows, concerts and automobile racing (the Spa-Francorchamps Belgian Grand Prix along with Monaco is perhaps the most glamorous of the Formula 1 season). And so do the manor houses (or "plush houses" as they were locally known), of which Best Western Premier La Villa des Fleurs remains one of the finest and best preserved specimens.

The word "plush" is not over the top for an accommodation of this quality, whose current owner is a most talented chef and whose history has been so intricately woven with the town's for over a century. The hotel was recently designated one of Spa's most emblematic buildings and monuments and has been included in the application to list this town, appropriately nicknamed "Pearl of the Ardennes", as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The hotel was built in the 19th century by a wealthy landowner interested in having a pied-à-terre amidst the resort. The house has retained a good number of the original architectural features, and in particular a fabulous porte-cochere vehicle entrance door that suggests the unique privilege awaiting the visitor. This feeling of a carefree and sumptuous lifestyle is superbly maintained inside the hotel, where not a single room can alter the lofty reputation enjoyed by the resort: high molded ceilings, oak parquet flooring, marble staircases and fireplaces, a host of authentic decoration (small masterpieces from the 18th-century Belgian School of Painting), peace and quiet, and the exquisite attention to detail (look at the color of the geraniums climbing the terrace stairs or the crystal chandeliers). Flowers are naturally to be found everywhere… but floral arrangements are never overdone or forced, instead they blend effortlessly with one another. Here especially, choosing a room is not to be taken lightly as each of the twelve has its own identity and refined flair, whether it be a garden view, southern exposure, a mansard window, beamed ceiling, or a small balcony near the roof.

The hotel, much like the town, has built its reputation from testimonials offered by the most prestigious of clients. To grasp the extent of Spa's renown over the centuries, let's start with its name, now a word used throughout the world. Historians do not unanimously agree on the origin of the word spa; some mention an acronym of Latin root ("Sana Per Acqua"), while others note "sparsa" from the Latin meaning a gushing spring. They do reach consensus though in associating the word with the town of Spa, a resplendent image of well-being and high life over the ages, as attested by the visits of England's King Charles II, the Czar Pierre Le Grand, Casanova and… Barry Lindon, the amazing character from Stanley Kubrick's film. Such are the contemplations inspired at the BWP Best Western Premier La Villa des Fleurs in the sitting rooms or from its timeless terrace.

Best Western Premier La Villa des Fleurs

31, rue Albin Body, Spa, Belgium - B-4900

Phone: +32 (0) 8 779 50 50 Fax: +32 (0) 8 779 50 60