Welcome to Franschhoek
French Huguenots settled in this spectacular valley over 300 years ago, bringing their vines with them. Ever since, this Winelands town has clung to its French roots, and July visitors will find that Bastille Day is celebrated here. Franschhoek bills itself as the country’s gastronomic capital, and you’ll certainly have a tough time deciding where to eat. Plus, with a clutch of art galleries, wine farms and stylish guesthouses thrown in, it really is one of the loveliest towns in the Cape.
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Franschhoek activities
Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl Valley Wine Day Trip
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: Neethlingshof Estate, Stellenbosch, Western CapeEnjoy a Wine Tasting Stellenbosch. Wine Estate is subject to change.Duration: 1 hourStop At: Fairview Wine and Cheese, Suider Paarl, Paarl, Western CapeEnjoy a Wine tasting in paarl. Wine estate is subject to change.Duration: 45 minutesStop At: Dieu Donne Vineyards & Views, Franschhoek, Western CapeEnjoy wine tasting in Franschoek.Wine estate is subject to change.Duration: 45 minutes
Cape Winelands Private Tour and Tastings from Cape Town
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: Cape Town Wine Tours, Cape Town Central, Western CapeThe wine regions- Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl will be visited with a tasting of 5 wines in every region together with city tours and scenic drives.Duration: 8 hoursStop At: Franschhoek Cellar, Franschhoek, Western CapeAward-winning vineyard in Franschhoek will be visited.Duration: 45 minutesPass By: Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Western CapeCampus-drive will be conducted en route to FranschhoekPass By: Taalmonument op Paarlberg, Paarl, Western CapeAfrikaans Language Monument will be seen after architectural Main Steet Drive in Paarl
Cape Winelands with Stellenbosch: Private Tour from Cape Town
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Western CapeA campus drive will be conducted after a city tour -5 wines will be sampled at a beautiful wine estate in the Stellenbosch region.Duration: 2 hoursStop At: Franschhoek Pass, Franschhoek, Western CapeAfter a Main Street drive along interesting galleries the tour will take you to a viewpoint in the pass to capture the scenic beauty of the town on camera. 5 excellent wines will be tasted.Duration: 2 hoursPass By: Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Western CapeStellenbosch City tour as well as Campus and Mountain-drives included.
Western Cape Wine Tasting and Culinary Tour from Cape Town
Departing your accommodation, you're taken along the Stellenbosch Wine Route to the Zevenwacht Wine Estate, located about 20 minutes from Cape Town. Admire scenery that is completely different from the landscape of the Cape Peninsula. Numerous grapes are grown in the region, such as chenin blanc, shiraz, pinotage, and the méthode cap classique (sparkling wine). Upon reaching the small but vibrant town of Stellenbosch, enjoy your first tasting at a wine cellar.Next up is the Marianne Wine Estate, located in Franschhoek, an old Huguenot village translated as the 'French Corner.' You will be enchanted by the town's charm and tranquil atmosphere while you taste of the region's best wines and cheeses.En route to Paarl, your guide will point out Drakenstein Prison, a low-security prison where Nelson Mandela spent the last part of his sentence for campaigning against apartheid. On arrival in the town, which offers a fascinating window into Afrikaner cultural traditions, learn about the former haven for Huguenot pioneers who came from Europe at the beginning of the 17th century. Your day trip ends with the return to Cape Town and drop-off at your hotel.
Full-Day Winelands Tour with Tastings from Cape Town
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: DeMorgenzon Winery, Stellenbosch, Western CapeWe will departs from Cape Town along the National Road 2 en route to the Wine Region of Stellenbosch and our first wine estate will be DeMorgezon also known as DMZ.All wine estates in the Western Cape are beautiful and all have unique terroir. However,We believe that DeMorgenzon is the most extraordinary of them all. Their slopes rise from about 200m to nearly 400m above sea level and their vistas embrace Cape Town, Table Mountain, Cape Point, Cape Hangklip, the Hottentots Holland mountains, Helderberg and Simonsberg with the ocean as a backdrop. While they could call themselves ‘mountain vineyards’ they prefer to be known as ‘garden vineyards’. In Spring specially chosen wildflowers flourish between their vines. DMZ have no doubt that a biodiverse and ecologically sensitive environment produces infinitely better grapes and the beauty of DMZ gardens is captured in every bottle of the wine crafted at this award winning vineyard. Here You will taste up to 6 six different beautiful cultivars. Do not hesitate to ask your guide to take you to the back vineyard where classic music plays 24 hours right in the middle of the field. The owners believe that plants have the ability to listen to music. DMZ chardonnay and Chenin blanc have bought home so many platinum international awards.Duration: 1 hourPass By: Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Western CapeFrom DMZ, we will continue towards the town of Stellenbosch, drive by where your tour guide will unpack the history of this beautiful town and its prestigious University.What you need to know Stellenbosch holds the honour of being the most well-known town in South Africa. History, culture, natural beauty, sport, education and wine has made the name 'Stellenbosch' resonate around the globe as one of South Africa's premier tourist, wine, business and education attractions. The recorded history of Stellenbosch dates back to 1679 when this name was given to a small island on the Eerste River by Simon van der Stel, the then governor of the Cape. It can, however, be assumed that prior to its official naming, the Stellenbosch surrounds were home to various indigenous communities. The Eerste River, which today still ripples through Stellenbosch, was so named as this happened to be the First ('Eerste') river the Dutch settlers came upon after leaving their Cape Town base. After its discovery, Stellenbosch was quickly identified as an area in which to settle, with great potential for agriculture. The surrounding areas proved rich in soil and correct climate for producing vegetables to sustain the ships passing by the Cape of Good Hope en route to the other Dutch colonies in the East. Add to this the thirst of the Dutch and other settlers that necessitated the making good wine, Stellenbosch soon saw its hills and valleys also planted to vines along with other agricultural crops. That skilled vintners were sent to the area and the vines bore wonderful fruit is proven in the fact that, to this day, Stellenbosch remains world-renowned for the quality of its wines, with the vine being by far the region's most prominent agricultural feature. With the rich agricultural pickings, the early settlers soon established a bustling town. The earliest building in the Stellenbosch area dates back to 1689 and can still be viewed on the historic wine farm of Muratie. In the town itself, solid, white-plastered buildings arose and the streets were planted with oak trees, giving it the name Eikestad (Town of Oaks), which is still used to describe the town today. Besides its rapid growth in becoming a centre for the flourishing wine industry, the foundations for Stellenbosch's heritage as an educational centre were laid in 1859 when a theological seminary was established. In 1918 a university was founded, and to this day the University of Stellenbosch remains an internationally recognized education centre and one of the leading universities on the African continent. It is also one of two learning centres in South Africa that trains fledgling wine makers - the other being the Elsenburg Educational College outside Stellenbosch. Stop At: Marianne Wine Estate, Stellenbosch, Western CapeFrom here, we will drive along R44 en route to Marianne Wine estate. Some of the best red wines similar the Bordeaux Blend in France are produced here. Marianne Floreal was the wine which was chosen by the famous South African Chef Gordon Ramsay for Nelson Mandela 91st Birthday Party.This is what the owners of Marianne have to say Originally from Bordeaux where our family owns 3 wine estates, we fell in love with South Africa during our many travels to the country.Our dream was to combine both, the Old & the New World, to make wines close to our vision of perfection. Therefore, we decided to purchase this boutique wine estate of 32 hectares (including 24 on vines) located in Simonsberg valley in 2004.Manual harvesting, selection of the best grapes, French oak and Acacia barrel ageing, combined with a French "savoir-faire" from our South-African winemaker Jos Van Wyk, will lead you to explore some of the finest wines produced in the region.Here you will taste up to six top wines pairing with different dried meat known as biltong in South Africa..Duration: 1 hourStop At: Fairview Wine and Cheese, Suider Paarl, Paarl, Western CapeFrom Stellenbosch - Marianne, we will proceed towards Paarl another historic area in Cape Town and we will stop at Fairview Wine estate . Here, you will taste up to six wines pairing with different types of cheese.what you need to know about Fairview The Fairview farm is on the south western slopes of the Paarl mountain range, approximately 60 km from Cape Town. The farm comprises 320 hectares, of which 120 hectares are planted to vineyard. The farm ranges in altitude from 400m above sea level on the slopes of the mountain to 180m on the valley floor. The farm is located at 33°46'21″ south 18°55'25″ east.The current Fairview property was first designated as a farm by the then Governor of the Cape Simon van der Stel in 1693, with Steven Vervey the first official owner. Vervey is thought to be one of the French Huguenots who arrived in the Cape in 1688. The earliest recorded name for the property is Bloemkoolfontein (directly translated from Afrikaans as cauliflower fountain) and hints at the mixed agriculture that took place on the property over the centuries. Towards the end of the 19th century the name of the property was officially changed to Fairview. Charles Back purchased the Fairview farm from a Mr Hugo in 1937 for the sum of 6500 pounds. Fairview has been in the Back family to the present day.Charles Louis Back was a Lithuanian immigrant to the Cape, who arrived in South Africa in 1902. He settled in Paarl where he set up a butcher shop as well as selling farm produce from the local farmers. Through these dealings he was offered a piece of land on the farm Klein Babylonstoren in the Paarl winelands. In 1916 Charles Back purchased what would later become the Backsberg farm from David Louw and left the butchery behind to become a wine farmer. Winemaking came naturally to him and in 1926 he was awarded the General Smuts Trophy for South Africa's champion wine. After establishing himself and learning the trade, Charles Back purchased Fairview from Hugo in 1937, for the sum of 6500 pounds. Charles Back had two sons, Sydney and Cyril, in whom Back instilled a love for the land, as well as a strong work ethic. When Charles died in 1955, he left Backsberg to Sydney and Fairview to Cyril.Cyril, both strong-willed and hard working, spent much of his first years at Fairview replanting and planning vineyards. In 1974, Cyril daringly broke away from the KWV ; as a result, the first wines under the Fairview Estate label were bottled in this year. His wines were highly regarded, and he was seen as an innovator in a tightly regulated and controlled KWV industry. Fairview wines started receiving medals regularly at the country's premier venues, such as the Boberg Wine Show. In 1975, Cyril held South Africa's first public wine auction and, together with his wife, Beryl, began to recognise the farm's possibilities of public visitation. Fairview become one of the first farms to open cellar door sales to the public, with Cyril and Beryl being the company's cornerstone.Cyril's son, Charles, joined Fairview in 1978, after completing his winemaking studies at Elsenburg agricultural college. In 1981, Charles built the Fairview goat tower; it would become a key part of Fairview's brand in future years. Charles introduced a number of new ideas and winemaking methods, quickly developing a distinctive reputation for innovation in the industry.Duration: 1 hourStop At: Franschhoek Pass, Franschhoek, Western CapeFrom Fairview, we will drive towards the town of Franshoek, where your guide will give you time to walk, visit shops, galleries, have lunch at own account, explore on your own, before we return to Cape Town with a stop at the prison where Nelson Mandela was freed back on February 11th, 1990.Duration: 2 hoursStop At: Groot Drakenstein Prison (Victor Verster Prison), Paarl, Western CapeOur last stop will be here at this prison known today as the Groot Drakenstein Prison and formerly known as Victor Verster Prison. Nelson Mandela was realized from here on the 1th of February 1990.Get those Cameras ready to take some photos with the statute of Nelson Mandela. Access to prison house where Mandela spent 2 years is not yet open to public, only at Robben Island.What you need to know Nelson Mandela, leader of the movement to end South African apartheid, is released from prison after 27 years on February 11, 1990.In 1944, Mandela, a lawyer, joined the African National Congress (ANC), the oldest black political organization in South Africa, where he became a leader of Johannesburg’s youth wing of the ANC. In 1952, he became deputy national president of the ANC, advocating nonviolent resistance to apartheid–South Africa’s institutionalized system of white supremacy and racial segregation. However, after the massacre of peaceful black demonstrators at Sharpeville in 1960, Nelson helped organize a paramilitary branch of the ANC to engage in guerrilla warfare against the white minority government.In 1961, he was arrested for treason, and although acquitted he was arrested again in 1962 for illegally leaving the country. Convicted and sentenced to five years at Robben Island Prison, he was put on trial again in 1964 on charges of sabotage. In June 1964, he was convicted along with several other ANC leaders and sentenced to life in prison.Mandela spent the first 18 of his 27 years in jail at the brutal Robben Island Prison. Confined to a small cell without a bed or plumbing, he was forced to do hard labor in a quarry. He could write and receive a letter once every six months, and once a year he was allowed to meet with a visitor for 30 minutes. However, Mandela’s resolve remained unbroken, and while remaining the symbolic leader of the anti-apartheid movement, he led a movement of civil disobedience at the prison that coerced South African officials into drastically improving conditions on Robben Island. He was later moved to another location, where he lived under house arrest.In 1989, F.W. de Klerk became South African president and set about dismantling apartheid. De Klerk lifted the ban on the ANC, suspended executions, and in February 1990 ordered the release of Nelson Mandela.Mandela subsequently led the ANC in its negotiations with the minority government for an end to apartheid and the establishment of a multiracial government. In 1993, Mandela and de Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. One year later, the ANC won an electoral majority in the country’s first free elections, and Mandela was elected South Africa’s president.Mandela retired from politics in 1999, but remained a global advocate for peace and social justice until his death in December 2013.Duration: 15 minutesPass By: Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town Central, Western CapeFrom the prison, we will drive along the National Road 1, and you will be dropped off at any place of your choice.
Cape Town to Franschhoek Valley Wine Tour with Wine Tram Ride
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: Franschhoek Wine Tram, Franschhoek, Western CapeEnjoy ride in an open sided tram and open air tram bus.Tram and tram bus times vary.Duration: 10 minutesStop At: Vrede en Lust Winery, Simondium, Franschhoek, Western CapeEnjoy a Wine tastingDuration: 40 minutesStop At: Babylonstoren Garden, Paarl, Western CapeEnjoy Wine tasting. Duration: 40 minutes