Musée du Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps

About the museum

The Spa-Francorchamps race track was inaugurated in 1921 and lies for more than 80% within the municipality of Stavelot. It was therefore in Stavelot that a few enthusiasts of motorsport and of the circuit launched the idea of a museum, which was created in 1984. In the late 1970s the town had restored a vaulted cellar of the abbey, the “salle aux colonnes” (column hall), to which a more modern volume was added.

The large programme to restore and repurpose the abbey in 1999 relaunched the project: Wallonia funded 80% (about €380,000) of a new display design. Support from motor clubs, car owners and collectors also played a decisive role. Since 2002 the museum has been part of the abbey's Espace Tourisme Culture, together with the Principality Museum and the Guillaume Apollinaire Museum.

In 2024 the museum celebrated its 40th anniversary, with a new logo and a new team. Projects have been announced: spaces devoted to Jacky Ickx and to Ayrton Senna, as well as a room dedicated to motorcycles for the centenary of the 24 Hours of Spa. The museum also organises temporary exhibitions on motor cars and walks on the former circuit under the name “Original Track Francorchamps”.

Highlights

• Formula Room with single-seaters, and Motorcycle Room
• Exceptional cars and motorcycles, regularly renewed (Ferrari, March, Chevron, Porsche, Cooper)
• Large model of the circuit and a timeline of its history
• Themes on Formula 1, the 24-hour motorcycle and car races, and the “Demoiselles de Herstal”
• Driving simulator, by reservation

Permanent exhibition

• Collection permanente du Musée du Circuit – Formula Room, Motorcycle Room, portrait room, model of the circuit and timeline tracing the history of Spa-Francorchamps.

Founded

1984

Operated by

Espaces Tourisme & Culture asbl (Abbaye de Stavelot)

Admission & discounts

The single “All-in” ticket gives self-guided access to the three museums of the abbey (Spa-Francorchamps Circuit Museum, Guillaume Apollinaire Museum, Historical Museum of the Principality of Stavelot-Malmedy) and to the current temporary exhibition. Free with the museumPASSmusées.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

According to the abbey, the three museums are all on one level. For levels -1 and +1, the lift measures 1.10 m deep by 87 cm wide; a lift serves the part of the temporary exhibition on the second floor, and staff will operate it on request. The Access-i logo is displayed on the abbey's website.

Kids & families

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

The Brasserie de l'Abbaye, with a terrace, also welcomes visitors without a museum ticket. The Boutique de l'Abbaye sells merchandise, local beers, souvenirs and children's games.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Spaces in the abbey are available for hire; see the “Location & meeting” page of the website.

Plan your visit