Agatha Christie's 'English Riviera' Devon hometown seals twinning deal with Belgian Spa birthplace of her sleuth Hercule Poirot

Published: 00:36, 25 July 2026 | Updated: 00:40, 25 July 2026 Agatha Christie's Devon hometown has made a deal to twin with the birthplace of her iconic Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot.  The Golden Age murder mystery novelist was born on the 'English Riviera' in Torbay, southwest England, on September 15, 1890.  In the centenary year of the novel The Murder Of Roger Ackroyd, which established Poirot as Christie's defining character, the fictional Belgian detective's birthplace of Spa is being paired with Christie's own Devon hometown.  This year also marks 50 years since the novelist's passing. The twinning is hoped to celebrate the unique literary and cultural links shared by both locations through one of fiction's most enduring detectives.  Poirot's birthplace was first revealed in Christie's 1927 novel The Big Four, and in her autobiography published in 1977 she wrote of how her encounters as a nurse during the First World War with Belgian refugees in Torquay helped inspire Poirot.     Both Torbay and Spa are heritage tourism destinations.  Torbay, home to the coastal towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, is a UNESCO Global Geopark, while Spa, in the Ardennes region of eastern Belgium, is listed as one of UNESCO's Great Spa Towns of Europe.  It marks the first twinning with another town for both the regions, which featured strongly throughout Christie's work.  Iconic whodunnit mystery maker Agatha Christie penned Poirot to life as one of fiction's most enduring detectives 100 years ago  Detective Hercule Poirot was from Spa (pictured) in the Ardennes region of eastern Belgium  Christie's hometown of Torbay, in Devon, southwest England, dubbed the 'English Riviera'  Poirot has been brought to life in many TV and film adaptations since Christie first introduced him to readers  In her novel The Big Four, Poirot and Hastings find themselves in a villa close to the town of Spa in Wallonia, in the province of Liège, which many readers interpret as the family home of Poirot.  The twinning initiative was first conceived during discussions surrounding the collaboration between Agatha Christie Limited and June's Journey, the globally popular mystery mobile game developed by Wooga, which this year welcomed Hercule Poirot into the game's world as part of a special anniversary celebration.    Following this month's announcement of the intention to twin, representatives from Spa will travel to Torquay during the Agatha Christie Festival in September, where civic leaders from both towns will formally commemorate the twinning with a special signing ceremony.  The great-grandson of Agatha Christie and CEO of Agatha Christie Limited, James Prichard, said: 'There is much mystery around Hercule Poirot's family and early years in Belgium, not least where he was born and spent his childhood.  'Spa certainly plays a part in his life story, and linking it with Torbay in this way feels a fitting tribute to the great Belgian detective.'  Councillor Jackie Thomas, Cabinet Member for Tourism & Culture at Torbay Council, said: 'Hercule Poirot may be a fictional character, but his story has created a very real connection between Torbay and Spa.  'Agatha Christie drew inspiration from Belgian refugees she encountered in Torquay during the First World War before going on to create one of the most beloved characters in literary history.  'A century after The Murder of Roger Ackroyd established Poirot as a global phenomenon, it is fitting that his legacy should help bring our communities together.  'We look forward to welcoming our friends from Spa to Torbay later this year to mark this unique occasion.'  Alda Greoli, head of culture and history at Spa Council, said: 'Spa is honoured to take part in this twinning arrangement and to celebrate our unique connection to Hercule Poirot.  'Although Poirot is a fictional character, he remains one of Belgium's most famous cultural ambassadors.  'This initiative highlights the enduring international appeal of Agatha Christie's work and demonstrates how literature can continue to build bridges between communities.  'We look forward to visiting Torbay in September and celebrating this special relationship together.'