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Click on your prefered winelands
testination
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Stellenbosch: the second oldest town in South Africa, in the heart
of the Cape Winelands surrounded by the Helderberg, Jonkershoek, Simonsberg
and Drakenstein Mountains. The first farms in the region were established in
1680 on the banks of the Eerste Rivier. The famous Dorpstreet in the centre
of the 'Oak Town' shows many National Monuments. |
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Paarl: the Paarl valley is
dominated by the Paarl Mountain. The Khoi (Bushman) people called this
imposing granite head the 'Turtle Mountain' and the first colonists named
the mountain 'Pearl Mountain' because of the glistering granite after a rain
shower. The largest city in the Cape Winelands played a significant role in
the development of the Afrikaans language. Main attractions are the Language
Monument, the Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve, KWV Cathedral Cellars and the
Nederburg Wine Estate, known for its largest wine auction in the country.
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Franschhoek: the name of this beautiful village
means literally 'French Corner', named after the many French and Flemish
Huguenots who fled Europe in 1688 to avoid religious prosecution. The lovely
town still breaths the French atmosphere with wine farm names such as Mont
Rochelle, Dieu Donné and Haut Provence. Big
tourist attractions are the wine route, the Huguenot Monument and Museum and
the artisan Belgian chocolate factory. |
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Somerset West: found in 1822 and named after Lord Charles
Somerset, the Governor of the Cape Colony between 1814 and 1826.
Nowadays Somerset West is part of the Stellenbosch municipality. There are a
few historical buildings but the most remarkable is definitely Vergelegen Wine Estate,
built in 1700 by Governor Willem Adriaan van der Stel. Willem Adriaan was
the famous son of Simon van der Stel who established the famous Groot
Constantia Wine Estate. Sommerset West has everything to offer to visitors
such as wine estates, mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. |
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Tulbagh:
this small cosy town is named after Governor Ryk
Tulbagh. An earthquake struck this beautiful town in 1969 and damaged
severely the many historical buildings. These buildings were restored in its
original beauty and today, Tulbagh counts the largest concentration of
historical buildings in the country. |
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Wellington: unfortunately
less known but never the less not less beautiful. This small town is
situated north of Paarl. Before 1838, the valley was known as the
'Wagenmaekers Vallei' (Wagon Makers Valley) as the ox wagons had to be ajust
to be able to cross the mountain range in the north.Gouvernor
Sir George Napier renamed the town into Wellington, named after the famous
Lord Wellington who defeated Napoleon in Waterloo. |
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