Page 210 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

208  THE WESTERN AND SOUTHERN C APE

The open-air Worcester
Museum, 2km (1.25 miles)
southeast of High Street, is a
recreation of an early Cape farm,
complete with a shepherd’s hut,
horse mill, labourer’s cottage and
harness room. Visitors can watch
bread being baked outdoors, a
traditional blacksmith at work
and seasonal activities such as
brandy distillation.
E Worcester Museum
Road map B5. N1, signposted
The road to Worcester goes through the scenic Du Toitskloof Pass from Worcester. Tel 023 342 2225.
Open 8am–4:30pm Mon–Fri, 8am–
0 Worcester The attraction of a trip to 1pm Sat. Closed Good Fri, 25 Dec,
Worcester is the drive through 1 Jan. ∑ worcestermuseum.org.za
Road map B5. N1 from Cape Town
via Dutoitskloof Pass. * 97,000. the Du Toitskloof Pass, which
£ Worcester Station. n 25 Baring climbs to a height of 823 m Environs
St, 023 348 2795. Open Mon–Sat. (2,700 ft). Construction of the The Karoo Desert Nation al
Huguenot Tunnel in 1988 short- Botanical Garden, a short drive
This city, named after the Marquis ened the pass by 11 km (7 miles), north of Worcester, contains
of Worcester, the brother of one- but the route still affords scenic plants that thrive in a semi-
time Cape governor views of Paarl and the Berg River desert environment. Jewel-
Lord Charles Somerset, Valley. At Church Square bright mesembryan themums
lies some 110 km in Worcester, there is a are lovely in spring, while the
(68 miles) east of Garden of Remem- unusual year-round species
Cape Town. It is the brance designed include the prehistoric
biggest centre by Hugo Naude, welwitschias, and the halfmens
in the Breede the World War I (half-humans) and quiver trees.
River Valley and Memorial and One area features plants
the largest a stone cairn grouped by regional and
producer of erected at the climatic zones. The succulent
table grapes in time of the sym- plant collection, the largest
South Africa. Its bolic Ossewa (ox in Africa, is ranked by the
wineries produce a wagon) Trek of Organization for Succulent
substantial amount of Old water pump 1938 (see p58), Plant Study as one of the most
wine too, and Worcester in Worcester undertaken to authentic of its kind in the
is known for everyday commemorate the world. There is also a trail with
affordable reds, whites and Great Trek (see pp54–5). Braille text signs.
fortified wines. Eleven Worcester’s Dutch Reformed
estates on the Worcester Church was built in 1832. Y Karoo Desert National
Wine and Olive Route are The imposing Gothic-style Botanical Garden
open for tastings and cellar steeple was added in 1927 Roux Rd, Worcester. Tel 023 347 0785.
tours, most in the Breede after the original was blown Open 7am–7pm daily. 8 & (Aug–
River Valley. away in gales. Oct only.) 7 0 = ∑ sanbi.org

The Dutch Reformed Church in Worcester
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp385–6 and pp402–3

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