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Franschhoek
© South African Tourism
The extensive and verdant beauty of the Winelands region is one
of the Cape's most alluring attractions. No visit to Cape Town would
be complete without having taken the time to explore at least one of
the 13 wine routes in what is the largest wine-producing area in the
Western Cape.
Rugged, blue-tinged mountains surround the green valleys where
charming, historic towns rest among vineyards and olive groves,
where visitors can admire traditional Cape Dutch architecture, sip
world-class wines and soak up the rich cultural and historical
heritage. Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl are the most well
known wine producing valleys in the region, situated within easy
reach of each other, while the oldest wine farm in South Africa,
Groot Constantia, is located within the Mother City itself, and is
part of the tiny Constantia wine route, which was developed by Simon
van der Stel in the late 1600s. Other smaller wine routes include
Worcester, Tulbagh, Wellington and Somerset West. With a selection
of more than 200 cellars to choose from, the Cape Winelands boasts
some of the finest wines in the world.
In addition to savouring the fruits of the vine, visitors can
sample superb culinary fare at some of the finest restaurants in the
country, browse the art galleries and local craft shops, visit
historic monuments and museums, and partake in an array of
activities from walking, horse riding and fly-fishing to golf and
paragliding. Food and wine festivals take place throughout the year
and are a great introduction to the bewitching charms of the region.
Attractions
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Afrikaanse Taalmonument (Afrikaans Language
Monument) and Museum
The Afrikaans Language Museum pays tribute to a unique language
that is only 300 years old, created from the melting pot of
nationalities and languages in the Cape. The Dutch settlers,
French Huguenots, slaves from Malaysia, Indonesia, Madagascar and
West Africa and the local Khoi people all needed to communicate,
and so was born the language that could be used by all. The
struggle to gain recognition of Afrikaans as an official language
was carried out from Paarl, and the museum commemorates the people
that played an important role in the process, as well as exploring
the language in its diversity and learning about the people who
speak it today. The Language Monument on Paarl Mountain was
erected in 1975 to honour the Afrikaans language and is the only
language monument in the world. The contribution to Afrikaans from
the Western world, as well as from Africa, are represented by the
three linked columns and three rounded shapes respectively, while
the 187-foot (57m) pillar symbolises the growth of the language. |
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Address: Museum: Gideon Malherbe House, 11
Pastorie Avenue, Paarl. Monument: Paarl Mountain; Telephone:
021 872 3441; Website: http://www.taalmuseum.co.za/;
Opening time: Museum: Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm, Saturday
9am to 1pm. Monument: Daily 8.15am to 5pm (until 9pm from
September to April); Admission: Museum: R10 (adults), R2
(children). Monument: Adults R10 (R5 for South Africans), R2 for
children |
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Constantia
Constantia is the origin of wine production in South Africa,
and one of Cape Town's most exclusive suburbs. The Constantia wine
route is the oldest yet smallest wine route in the Cape,
consisting of just five wine farms that concentrate on producing
few wines of international quality. Groot Constantia is the oldest
wine estate in South Africa, home to the first governor of the
Cape, Simon van der Stel, and the valley's most recognised wine
farm. Between the estates of Klein and Groot Constantia,
Steenberg, Buitenverwachting and Constantia Uitsig, visitors will
also find some of the most highly acclaimed restaurants in the
country. |
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Website:
http://www.constantiawineroute.co.za/ |
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Franschhoek
Fleeing religious persecution in France in the 1700s, more than
200 French Huguenots arrived in the Cape and were settled in the
valley that soon became known as Franschhoek (French Corner),
which is today situated in the heart of the Cape Winelands region.
Many of the settlers were experienced wine producers and they soon
recognised the potential of the region for wine and fruit
production, establishing wine estates throughout the spectacular
Franschhoek Valley in surroundings of magnificent scenery and
towering mountains. Today the town is famous not only for its
splendid wines and beautiful vistas, but also as the gourmet
capital of South Africa, boasting the highest number of
award-winning eateries in the country. Restaurants such as Le
Quartier Français, La Petite Ferme, Haute Cabriere and Boschendal
are among those that are internationally acclaimed and some of the
top restaurants in South Africa. The Huguenots did not only bring
their viticulture and French culinary flair however, they also
left behind a rich legacy of arts, architecture and hospitality,
which are still visible today. |
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Website: http://www.franschhoek.org.za/
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Huguenot Monument and Museum
A major tourist attraction in the Franschhoek valley, the
historic Huguenot Monument was erected in 1938 to remember and
honour the French Huguenots who arrived in South Africa in 1688
after fleeing persecution in their home country. The nearby museum
documents the history of the settlers, from their flight from
France to their arrival and successful establishment of the
Franschhoek wine region in the Cape of Good Hope. The museum
contains a variety of Bibles, documents, furniture, utensils and
artefacts, which illustrate the life of the Huguenots in the Cape. |
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Address: Franschhoek; Telephone:
021 876 2532; Website: http://www.museum.co.za/; Opening
time: Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 2pm to 5pm;
Admission: R5 (adults), R1 (children) |
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Oom Samie se Winkel (Uncle Sam’s shop)
This famous Stellenbosch institution is a shop set back in
time, where a huge variety of interesting products can be
purchased from shelves crammed with sweets, dried fish, wine,
clothing and tobacco. It is well worth a look, if not to buy
anything, then to experience how locals traded 200 years ago. |
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Address: 84 Dorp Street, Stellenbosch;
Telephone: 021 887 0797 |
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Paarl
Situated at the foot of the second-largest granite outcrop in
the world, the town of Paarl in the picturesque Berg River Valley
is the biggest town in the Cape Winelands, and features some of
the most superb examples of Cape Dutch, Victorian, Edwardian and
Art Deco architecture. It has a rich history, boasting the
Drakenstein Prison where Nelson Mandela spent his last years in
captivity, and overlooking the town from the slopes of the Paarl
Mountain is the Language Monument, which symbolises the birth of
the Afrikaans language. Along with its historical background,
Paarl is also known for its award-winning wines, particularly its
reds, which can be sampled along the world's first 'Red Route'.
Paarl's wine route includes over 40 cellars, among them Nederburg
and KWV, and many of them also make a variety of delicious
cheeses. |
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Website: http://www.paarlonline.com/ |
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Spier Wine Estate
Not only one of South Africa's most famous and most popular
wine estates, historic Spier is also an internationally renowned
cultural resort that offers luxurious accommodation, conference
facilities, shopping, fine dining, and a variety of recreational
activities, including golf, horse riding, picnics, and a cheetah
park. An outdoor amphitheatre traditionally presents a variety of
music, theatre and dance during the Spier Summer Arts Season that
also seeks to promote, showcase and develop emerging South African
talent. Situated in the heart of the Stellenbosch winelands
region, Spier also boasts world-class wines in what is the oldest
working cellar in South Africa, and together with its other
facilities, is the most unique development in the wine world. |
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Address: R310 Lynedoch Road; Telephone:
021 809 1100; Website: http://www.spier.co.za/ |
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Stellenbosch
At the heart of the wine industry is the pretty town of
Stellenbosch, the second oldest town in South Africa and regarded
as the wine capital of the country with over 110 cellars in the
area. The Stellenbosch vineyards were established by the Dutch
governor of the Cape, Simon van der Stel, who arrived in 1679 and
noted that the combination of rich soil and ideal climate were
perfect for viticulture. In 1971 the first wine route in South
Africa was opened, and today the Stellenbosch wine route is
perhaps the best known and finest that the country has to offer,
producing award-winning wines from estates such as Morgenhof,
Kanonkop, Warwick and Zewenwacht. Spier Estate is renowned as a
unique cultural resort that is famous for its Summer Arts
Festival, and boasts the oldest working wine cellar in the
country. Stellenbosch is also steeped in South African history and
Afrikaans culture and was settled by the Dutch East India Company
to produce food for passing ships. Old oak trees line the streets
where Cape Dutch architecture, museums and national art
collections are a reminder of the town's heritage. The town also
boasts the world's only Afrikaans university, a premier
educational institute, which has produced many great sporting
heroes, including more than 155 Springbok rugby players. |
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Website: http://www.stellenbosch.org.za/
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