| Last weekend, Doreen a friend of mine, and I | | | | stop at the tourism offices in each little town and |
| whisked ourselves off to the winelands to | | | | get a map of the wine estates in the areas. |
| experience some cape hospitality, enjoy some | | | | Franschhoek is often referred to as "the gourmet |
| fine wines and take in the breathtaking | | | | capital of the Cape" and this title is justly |
| mountainous views of the area, oh and of course | | | | deserved as it has some of the finest restaurants |
| to inspect some accommodation establishments. | | | | in the country. With meals ranging from French |
| Our main aim was to keep abreast of what is | | | | cuisine, to typical Cape cooking, to simple country |
| offered to our clients when they visit the | | | | fare, there is a menu for every taste and for |
| winelands. | | | | every pocket. Some of the restaurants having |
| We started off in Paarl. Paarl is one of the oldest | | | | won various awards are Le Quartier Francais, |
| towns in South Africa and particularly known for | | | | Ruebens and Haute Cabriere. |
| its mountain, "Paarl Rock". The huge granite rock | | | | Some of my favourite accommodation |
| is formed by three rounded outcrops that make | | | | establishments here offering value for money are |
| up Paarl Mountain and is the second largest granite | | | | Franschhoek Country House and Klein Genot. |
| outcrop in the world. Paarl Mountain Nature | | | | We left Franschhoek and travelled over the Hell's |
| Reserve offers some awesome hiking trails and | | | | Hoogte Pass into Stellenbosch, a beautiful pass |
| great views. | | | | linking the two towns. The second oldest town in |
| Paarl boasts a unique attraction in the fact that | | | | South Africa, founded by Simon van der Stel in |
| the foundations of a new language, Afrikaans, | | | | 1679 and renowned for its Cape Dutch buildings, |
| combined heritage of Africa and the European | | | | university and wines, Stellenbosch lies in a fertile |
| mother countries, were laid here. The Monument | | | | valley surrounded by vineyards, orchards and |
| to the Afrikaans language on the slopes of Paarl | | | | mountains. It is an academic and farming |
| Mountain, the Language Museum and the | | | | community and one of the most well preserved |
| Afrikaans Language Route through Dal Josaphat | | | | towns in South Africa. |
| are living memorials to this achievement. A very | | | | Two of my favourite properties here are River |
| interesting aspect to include in an itinerary if | | | | Manor and Summerwood Guest House, both |
| history interests you! | | | | within walking distance of the bustling little town. |
| Add to this the rich heritage of well preserved | | | | Being a university town, Stellenbosch offers a |
| historic buildings scattered through the town and | | | | lively nightlife with array of different options such |
| the large number of top-quality restaurants | | | | as theatre shows, live music bars and nightclubs |
| offering traditional Cape cuisine. | | | | and also a number of good restaurants. |
| We then whisked ourselves off to Franschhoek, a | | | | Various festivals are held annually throughout the |
| quaint little village not to be missed! More than | | | | Cape Winelands, including a host of food festivals |
| three centuries ago about 200 French Huguenots, | | | | and a wonderful variety of wine shows. From arts |
| having escaped religious persecution, settled in the | | | | culture fairs to open-air shows and harvest |
| Berg River Valley and founded the community of | | | | festivals, the Winelands is an all-year-round |
| Franschhoek (the French Corner). With its fine | | | | beehive of activity, attracting visitors from far |
| balmy summers and the majority of its rainfall in | | | | and wide to come and enjoy the warm hospitality |
| winter, the French Huguenots recognised the | | | | and energy it exudes |
| potential of the region for wine production and | | | | Breathe the fresh champagne air of the Cape |
| fruit growing. | | | | Winelands, a haven for those wanting to escape |
| Franschhoek alone offers over 30 wine estates | | | | the stresses and strains of everyday city living. |
| where you can taste wine. It would be very | | | | Celebrate your health by relaxing in our natural |
| difficult to get to even 10% of the wine estates | | | | hot water springs or enjoy a welcome break at |
| in the Cape Winelands area during your stay in | | | | our world-class health spa´s with a variety |
| the Cape. The best thing to do is to acquire a | | | | of treatments ranging from aromatherapy, |
| good map of the winelands area and choose | | | | balneotherapy and acupuncture to reflexology and |
| some of the well-known estates to visit. You can | | | | message therapy. |