Under the Abbey

Out'n'About

July 25, 2025 Buzz Box, Out'n'About
The flat out Stavelot Bend in the 1953 Belgian Grand Prix. Fergus Anderson’s Moto Guzzi leads Jack Brett, New Zealander Ken Mudford, Ken Kavanagh and Bill Doran.
  • Spa-Francorchamps Circuit Museum

From our Old Bike Archives – Issue 97 – first published in 2021.

Story and photos: Jim Scaysbrook

Spa-Francorchamps Museum, Belgium.

Prior to 1981, when the famous Spa-Francorchamps race track was dramatically shortened, the lap passed within metres of the town of Stavelot; today a somewhat sleepy village where motor sport history is not overtly displayed.

Just up the road, the original and mightily spectacular Stavelot Corner, on the southern extremity of the original and very daunting 14-kilometre lap, spears off the main road and heads uphill towards the fearful Blanchimont Bend, which was flat out for the brave. The Stavelot curve was a slightly banked long right hander that was also taken flat out, drawing huge crowds on the inside of the bend, which was in the day lined with tall billboards and the flags of many nations on the outside. Today, that stretch of road is still there, but the billboards and flags have gone and what was the spectator area has returned to peaceful grazing land. 

Stavelot Corner in 2015.
The Stavelot Bend spears off the old circuit to the right, with the road to the village to the left.
Welcome to Stavelot.

In the town of Stavelot itself stands the Abbey (https://abbayedestavelot.be/en/), one of two monasteries (the other in nearby Malmedy) that were founded in 650. Having withstood numerous invasions, annexations and occupations over the past millennium, Stavelot is back in Belgian hands, at least for the foreseeable future. The principle building dates from around 1040 and since 1984 has contained the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit Museum, located in the magnificent vaulted cellars. 

Like BSA and Royal Enfield, the FN company began as a weapons manufacturer. These early examples, a bicycle and a pair of four-cylinder models, adorn the foyer of the cellars at the Musée du Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
Above & below: Very rare 1955 Sarolea Atlantic 500 twin.

200cc Sarloea Trials model of 1955.
1954 Sarolea 200 2-stroke single.
The final version of the FN Saro motocrosser, ridden to the 1957 500cc World Championship by Belgian legend Rene Baeten.

It is a particularly apt environment for a museum, with stone walls decorated with period signage and advertising. Naturally the museum collection is slanted more towards cars, but there is nevertheless an extensive motorcycle display which contains examples of the local manufacturers, FN, Gillet and Sarolea, which were made in nearby Liege. In the late 1950s when the motorcycle industry was struggling, these three companies amalgamated. 

1938 500cc OHV Gillet.
1922 350cc Gillet, built at Liege, just 60km from Stavelot.
Very Bantam-like 125cc Gillet from 1956.
Sectioned FN split-single engine.
1938 FN M11.
Powered by a 200cc Villiers engine, this Belgian-made Novy dates from 1956.
1916 V-twin NSU.
Collection includes many former F1 cars, including this ex-Jim Clark Lotus 25.
Vaulted ceilings and columns are a stunning feature of the cellars of the Abbey.
Italian-made 50cc ITOM racer.

Since my visit, the motorcycle display has been bolstered by the addition of bikes that have featured in the annual Spa 24 Hour Endurance Race, part of the Endurance World Championship. The museum is open to the public. Visit the museum website for more information including opening times: https://musee-circuit.be/en/

This article first appeared in Old Bike Australasia Issue 97. You can still purchase this back issue by clicking the cover.

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