Spa

Town in Liège province, Belgium, 27 km/17 mi southeast of Liège in the Ardennes; population (2006 est) 10,500. It has been known for its mineral springs since the 14th century, and has given its name to similar health resorts elsewhere; see spa town.

In the 18th century it was the most fashionable resort of this kind in Europe. In 1918 Spa was the headquarters of the German High Command. Kaiser William II abdicated here on 10 November, and fled to the Netherlands. In 1918–19 it was the seat of the armistice commission, and in 1920 a European conference was held here to discuss disarmament and repatriation following World War I.