Page 206 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

204  THE WESTERN AND SOUTHERN C APE

7 Franschhoek VISITORS’ CHECKLIST

Farms in this beautiful valley encircled by the Franschhoek Practical Information
and Groot Drakenstein moun tains were granted to several Road map B5. N1, exit 47, R45.
* 17,600. n 62 Huguenot St,
French Huguenot families (see p51) by the Dutch East India 021 876 2861. . _ Bastille Day
Company (VOC) in 1694. The new settlers brought with them (14 Jul). ∑ franschhoek.org.za
considerable skill as farmers, crafters and viticulturists, leaving Transport
a marked influence on the area, which the Dutch named k Cape Town 79 km
De Fransche Hoek (French Corner). (49 miles) E.

On a tall spire that surmounts
the central arch is the “Sun
of Righteousness”.
 Haute Cabrière
Lambrechts Rd. Tel 021 876 2630.
Open 9am–5pm Mon–Fri, 10am–4pm
Sat, 11am– 4pm Sun.& 8 Cellar
tours: 11am Mon–Sat 7 0
∑ cabriere.co.za
E Franschhoek Motor
Museum
L’Ormarins Wine Estate, on the R45
outside Franschhoek. Tel 021 874
A collection of period furniture in the Franschhoek Huguenot Museum 9000. Open 10am–5pm daily (to 4pm
Sat–Sun). & ∑ fmm.co.za
Exploring Franschhoek After an interesting cellar tour, a The museum charts the evolu­
Upon arrival, the town’s French sommelier cleanly shears the tion of the automobile with a
heritage is immediately evident neck off a bottle of Pierre collection of some 220 vehicles,
in lilting names such as Jourdan sparkling wine with a more than 80 of which will be
L’Ormarins and Haute Cabrière. sabre, an old technique known as on show at any one time.
The main attraction, besides an sabrage, before serving the wine.
exquisite setting, is its gourmet Visible at the top end of the E Huguenot Memorial
cuisine, accompanied by the main street is the Huguenot Museum
area’s excellent wines. Around Monument, unveiled in 1948 to Lambrecht St. Tel 021 876 2532.
30 restaurants (see p402) offer commemorate the arrival of the Open 9am–5pm Mon–Sat, 2–5pm
superb Malay, country and French settlers. A wide, semi­ Sun. Closed Good Fri, 25 Dec.
Provençale dishes. circular colonnade frames three & 7 = ∑ museum.co.za
Franschhoek’s wine route tall arches representing the Holy This museum celebrates
was established in 1980 by Trinity. Before them is the fig ure the history and genealogy
Michael Trull, a former advertis­ of a woman stan ding on a of the Cape’s Huguenot
ing executive. He formed the globe, with her feet on France. families and their descendants.
Vignerons de Franschhoek, Of special note is a copy of
with five founder cellars – the Edict of Nantes (1598),
today there are 20 estates. which permitted free dom
A unique experience is a visit of worship to Protes tants in
to the Haute Cabrière estate. France, and a fine collec tion
of old Bibles, including
one printed in 1636.

The Huguenot Monument in Franschhoek was built in 1943
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp385–6 and pp402–3

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