Paarl
Less than an hour's drive from Cape Town lies another one of the Cape's gems … or rather, pearls.
In 1657 Abraham Gabemma set out inland to search for new meat resources. It was after a rainstorm when he saw a mountain in the distance, with a giant granite rock which glistened like a wet pearl in the sun. He named the mountain "Perelberg" or some say “Diamantberg” (Diamond Mountain), which later became Paarl Mountain and the town that evolved at its base was named Paarl.
It was 30 years after the discovery of this fertile valley that farms were given to pioneers, shortly before the arrival of the Huguenots in 1688. The pioneers started with their work, and in 1699 the first water mill was put to use. The first church, the "Strooidak Kerk" (Thatch Roof Church) was consecrated in 1805, and today it is the oldest church building still in use. The gables are regarded as the most attractive of their kind to have survived.
The Old Parsonage "De Oude Pastorie" was built in 1787 and is one of the most precious architectural treasures of Paarl, situated below the impressive "Toringkerk" (Tower Church). It was bought by the municipality in 1937 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the arrival of the Huguenots, and today houses the Oude Pastorie Museum, which displays an interesting collection of Cape Dutch furniture, silver and copperware.
Another museum well worth a visit is the Paarl Museum. The original building was used to accommodate eleven ministers from the Strooidak Kerk between 1715 and 1872. In 1872 the property was sold to the Thom family and remained in their possession until 1924. It was then used as a boys' hostel by Paarl Gymnasium High School until it was purchased by the Paarl Town Council. The building was renovated in 1939 and opened as the Huguenot Museum. The name changed in 1969 to the Old Parsonage Museum, and again on March 1st, 1995 to its present name, the Paarl Museum.
The museum focuses on the history of Paarl and displays a fascinating collection of Cape Antiques, artefacts, documents and photographs, which reflect the cultural diversity and development of the town.
Although Paarl is not the oldest town after Cape Town, it did have a significant influence on South Africa's history. In 1840 it became the first town to have a municipality. Paarl was the major supplier of wagons and played an important role in the Great Trek, which led to the discovery of the rest of the country.
The intriguing Afrikaans Language Monument was inaugurated on the 10th of October 1975, to represent, not only the influence that the residents of Paarl had on the development of the Afrikaans Language but also the different race groups. The hill was once used as a “signal hill” to inform farmers to bring their produce into Table Bay to supply newly arrived ships with fresh produce.
Paarl is surrounded by a naturally beautiful countryside, dotted with many farms and smallholdings. Few towns are blessed with a landscape this dramatic, where the massive granite mountain contrasts with its picturesque fynbos vegetation, the famous Paarl Rock set among ancient wild olives, rock candle woods and wagon “Waboom” trees. Paarl Mountain offers several viewpoints, from where you have a panoramic view towards Table Mountain and the sea in the west, and the Boland Mountain ranges in the east.
Visitors to Paarl are presented with a vast variety of attractions, scenic drives and hiking trails, wine tasting opportunities and outstanding dining venues. Outdoor entertainment includes daring 4x4 trails, mountain biking through the hills, invigorating hikes through the mountains followed by picnics at a sparkling mountain stream, or trout or bass catching to provide a fantastic fresh dinner. Experience the vastness of the vineyards and fynbos on horseback, or enjoy a birds-eye-view of Paarl Mountain’s granite pearls from a hot-air balloon. Paarl boasts its own exquisite golf course “Pearl Valley Golf course”, and a really special treat is the amazing world of butterflies, crocodiles and snakes which awaits you just outside this lovely town.
Paarl is surrounded by a group of the Cape Fold Mountains and from the Taal Monument site a fabulous view of these mountains are visible ie. The Klein & Groot Drakenstein, Simonsberg, Klapmuts Hill & even Table Mountain & Lions Head.
Currently, the vineyards are in autumn colours and the different types of viticulture are easily spotted along the route, i.e. Trellis & bush type farming.
Paarl proudly accommodates the Headquarters of the South African wine industry, the Co-operative Wine Growers Association, better known as the KWV. The KWV is a South African institution whose unique achievements and top quality wines and spirits have earned it an outstanding international reputation.
Paarl Vintners is an all-encompassing organisation that has established Paarl as one of the leading wine regions in the world. Since its inception, the organisation has made a significant impact, not only in the Paarl region but also in the broader “wine world”.
Some achievements are the first Braille Wine Route guide to assist blind wine lovers, the establishment of a wine-tasting competition for cellar workers and the arrangement of educational and specialist wine seminars.
Paarl and its immediate vicinity boast enough wine cellars and estates to justify its own wine route. Wine cellars on the Paarl Wine Route include:
Boland Wine Cellar, with its charming new, underground tasting venue
De Zoete Inval, which has become a popular meeting place for family, friends and visitors. Cheese and cheese pastry are served in between exceptional wines.
The KWV - apart from producing wines and spirits of internationally renowned quality, the KWV also sponsors the annual Berg River Canoe Marathon, which takes place in September and attracts participants from near and far.
Laborie Estate, which serves elegant wines and divine traditional dishes in a stylish restaurant, where the splendour of the Paarl Valley stretches away in an incredible vista.
Nederburg, located on the northern end of Paarl and the setting for the fabulous Nederburg Wine Auction each year during April. This event is considered a highlight on the International wine calendar that attracts wine lovers from around the globe. The Auction takes place over two days and main features include an international guest speaker, a trend-setting fashion show and, of course, the auction itself.
Fairview, a unique experience – the famous goat tower. The tasting room is warm and welcoming, and a large selection of fine wines and delicious cheeses tempt the palate. Fairview not only produces award-winning wines but also Jersey milk Brie and Camembert, as well as a wide variety of Italian and French-style goat's and sheep's cheeses.
Spice Route with its array of chocolates, ice-creams, coffee & breads etc.
The wine estates that belong to the wine route arrange tours for visitors and provide an opportunity to meet the winemakers in person, to sample their produce and to purchase these excellent, nationally and internationally acclaimed red and white wines.
The Wine Route Ostrich Farm in Paarl offers a fun day, filled with activities such as watching Emus and white Ostriches on show, walking the guided tour and cooing over ostrich chicks. Enjoy speciality dishes such as ostrich or crocodile steak at one of the many restaurants in this area, or request a spit-braai with a live Marimba band as entertainment.
The Paarl Rock Brandy Cellar was founded by the De Villiers brothers in 1856. Since then, their exquisite brandy has been awarded more than 200 medals and awards, at both local and international shows - an achievement unrivalled by any other South African brandy!
The Wagon-maker's Museum tells of one of the most prosperous industries in historic Paarl. Wagon-making developed from a number of one-man workshops into a full industry with large factories. Especially during the Anglo Boer War and the years following that, the factories worked around the clock to meet the demands. However, after 1914 and with the advent of the motor car era, the wagon making industry declined very rapidly. The museum preserves the glory of these romantic days and is well worth a visit.
Another special treat is Le Bonheur Crocodile Farm, situated just south of Paarl. The farm is home to more than 1,000 crocodiles, and the daily guided tours are both educational and entertaining. After being awed by these prehistoric creatures, visitors can capture the memory in a souvenir from the curio shop, or enjoy the farm's speciality crocodile pie at the cafeteria or do some exciting Crocodile Cage diving.
The Afrikaans Language Monument (Afrikaanse Taal Monument) is located on a hill overlooking Paarl. Officially opened on 10 October 1975, it commemorates the semi-centenary of Afrikaans being declared an official language of South Africa. According to cannoneer, Riaan Conradie, who is in charge of the demonstrations at the Taal Monument, South Africa has one of the largest varieties of muzzle loading cannons in the world “Unfortunately many of these cannons have been grossly neglected and some even destroyed. It is CAOSA’s mission to research these cannons and the VOC cannon signal system, as well as to track, restore and display the cannons to preserve their heritage for future generations. The association has already found, measured and registered more than 1 000 of them in the DURR record of South African Muzzle Loading Cannons.
The Taal Museum (language museum) which is housed in the former home of Gideon Malherbe, a founder member of the Society of True Afrikaners. Their vision is for the monument and museum “to function in such a way that all South Africans can respect and appreciate Afrikaans”. They do this by collecting relevant information about the origin and development of Afrikaans, conducting research that broadens knowledge about Afrikaans and giving exposure to the different facets of Afrikaans through lectures and articles – among other things.
The Wine Route Ostrich Farm in Paarl offers a fun day, filled with activities such as watching Emus and white Ostriches on show, walking the guided tour and cooing over ostrich chicks. Enjoy speciality dishes such as ostrich or crocodile steak at one of the many restaurants in this area, or request a spit-braai with a live Marimba band as entertainment.
Paarl has so much to offer - a magnificent countryside, five mountain passes, a bounty of fruit orchards and beautiful vineyards, with the Berg River winding its way through and giving life to this fertile valley. Add to this a rich cultural heritage and diversity of historic buildings throughout the town, balanced by top-modern architecture and amenities. Excellent dining and exquisite wines, friendly people and a transcending feeling of tranquillity - be sure to experience all this for yourself!
De Kleijne Bos Country House is one of the oldest and most historic Homesteads in South Africa built 1692 and a perfect getaway to relax and unwind. Apart from its grandeur, history and hospitality, the accommodation proves to be charming and comfortable laced with a Cape Dutch architectural style. The Estate is located close to the award winning wine farms of Nederburg and Diemersfontein, offers an ideal base to indulge tastes for fine wines and world class cuisine. De Kleijne Bos also offers breathtaking views over the Drakenstein and Du Toits kloof valleys.
Lady Grey Street was named after the wife of Governor Sir George Grey in 1850
Paarl Post Office c/o LG & Main Streets, Built 1935 Stone laid in 1936
1896 Brandevijn & Spiritus Maatskapy (company), LG Bridge Station Licence granted in Feb 1896
Hotel & Tap also got licenced in 1896
1950 all old pioneer buildings in LG Demolished & replaced with these supposedly modern buildings.
The tallest building in Paarl, the 13-storey Nedbank building, is to be redeveloped for residential purposes as the Lady Grey Tower.
Paarl is also well known for the annual Berg River Canoe Race. In 1918 JN Hodgkins, a mechanical engineering and motorcycle building company – “motorcycle repairs and pram wheels “retyred while you wait” – ran an advertisement for a1918 model “Indian”. The “Indian” was a motorcycle with a sidecar, and the new model’s arrival was described as “the event of the year”
Dreyers Garage: TD Dreyer owned a garage on the corner of Lady Grey and Main Street, and place an advertisement in the Paarl Post of 11 July 1924. In the advertisement, he said that they would be demonstrating 3 and 4 cylinder Hupmobiles on Wednesday, 15 July at 3 pm. The Hupmobile was manufactured by the Hupp Motor Company(1909-1940) in Detroit, Michigan.
On the 30 July 1930 Williams Hunt & Johnston in Lady Grey Street, had 30,000th Chevrolet in South Africa, on display in their showroom.
The name Drakenstein in question refers to a Dutch nobleman with the impressive title of Henrick Adriaan van Rheede tot Drakensteijn, Lord of Mijdrecht (1636-1691). Van Rheede’s family estate, Drakensteijn, was near Utrecht in Holland. He was a high-ranking official in the Dutch East India Company (VOC), and visited the Cape in 1685 as a High Commissioner to reform the administration of the VOC’s outpost. Two years later when Governor Simon van der Stel granted the first farms in the Berg River valley to the French Huguenots he called the area Drakenstein to honour the VOC official.