Franschhoek wine region
The charming traditional French town of Franschhoek (French Corner) in the Western Cape province of South Africa lies in one of the most stunning wine valleys in the world. It is situated only 45 minutes from Cape Town and is within easy distance of the Somerset West, Paarl and Wellington Wine Routes. It is regarded as the food and wine capital of South Africa and this claim is difficult to dispute.
The valley was settled originally in 1688 by French Huguenot Protestants who left France to escape the persecution and fighting they encountered from the Monarchy at that time and the Catholic Church. Their heritage can be seen today at the Huguenot Monument and Museum housed in a beautiful setting in a stunning Cape Dutch style building.
The village of Franschhoek has an amazing selection of antique and art shops as well as galleries. It is not difficult to spend a good deal of time strolling along the main streets that are lined with coffee shops and restaurants. There are nearly 30 restaurants to choose from 8 of them listed amongst the top 100 restaurants in the country. Wine lovers will delight in the fact that some of the oldest and most famous of South Africa’s wine estates are found here.
The Cape Dutch architecture to be found in the region remains unspoiled as there are restrictions on renovations in order to preserve the heritage of the original settlers. Many of the wineries still have their original French names.
Visitors to the Franschhoek wine valley will find a variety of activities available. Aside from the spectacular scenery there is also horse riding or paragliding from the Franschhoek pass and swimming in the lovely refreshing rock pools. There are also many other attractions in or close to Franschhoek such as the Afrikaans Language Museum in Paarl, the Franschhoek Motor Museum and the Franschhoek Wine Route amongst many other places to see and enjoy.
Accommodation is available to suit all tastes in Hotels, Guest Houses, Bed and Breakfast and Self Catering as well as Country Inns.
