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Winelands of the Western Cape
Heldeberg 30 minutes out of Cape Town lies the beautiful farm lands of Heldeberg. The area includes Somerset West, Gordon's Bay, Strand and lies very close to Stellenbosh. An important monument, the N.G. Kerk (Dutch Reformed Church) is a popular tourist visit and has stood since it's construction in 1820. The coast line by Strand is perfect for family outings and a day at the beach offering a great view and a number of restaurants which run along the beach. Gordon's Bay is a small fishing village easily identified by a large GB written on the mountainside above the bay. For the adventurous at heart Great White cage diving is offered here or simple boat rides into the bay to view these magnificent beasts. Stellenbosh Rich in history, Stellenbosh was the second settlement established in the Cape and has remained one of it's greatest towns since 1679. Spending a day in Stellenbosh will present many opportunities to view the many historical buildings and meet a great deal of unique people. Home to the Cape Wine Academy it is the perfect place to start a journey into the wine lands of the Cape offering wine tasting and information on the various farms in the area. The town comes alive at night as students from Stellenbosh University fill the streets and make a trip to any of the local bars a unique experience. Franschhoek Franschhoek, meaning French Corner, was founded by French Calvinist protestants who fled France in the late 17 centuary for their religious beliefs. As a testoment to the settlers the Huguenot monument was constructed from granite and stands as a reminder to religious oppression. Since it's was established in 1688, wine has flowed from the fertile lands and a total of 21 farms now occupy the land surrounding the small town. A visit to the Franschhoek Tourism Association will offer info on the various routes available and some history concerning this magnificent part of the Western Cape. Paarl Paarl is Dutch for pearl and recieved it's name from the reflection of the sun on the large granite rock overlooking the town. The town began development late in the 17th century and was also known as Wagenmakers Valleij (Wagon makers Valley). In 1975 a monument was erected in honor of the Afrikaans language and is situated on the southern side of the mountain. In the town the Afrikaans Language Museum and Die Oude Pastorie Museum can be visited for a bit of cultural history. The largest cellar complex in the world, the KWV cellars can be found in the homestead of Laborie on Main street. After KWV purchased it in 1972, a restaurant was built after the house was restored to it's former magnificence. |