t The quaint exterior of the Oom Samie se Winkel village store

EXPERIENCE The Cape Winelands and West Coast

t The beautiful historic centre of Stellenbosch

The heart of the Winelands, Stellenbosch was founded in 1679 and is the cradle of Afrikaner culture. Its proud educational heritage began in 1863 with the establishment of the Dutch Reformed Theological Seminary. The Stellenbosch College, completed in 1886, was the forerunner of the university, which was established in 1918. Today, the university buildings are beautifully integrated with the surrounding historic monuments.

This charming, restored Victorian shop, whose name means “Uncle Samie’s Store”, has been operating as a general store since 1904. Its original proprietor, bachelor Samie Volsteedt, lived in the house next door. The store, a Stellenbosch institution and a national monument, has an eclectic stock including bottled preserves, biltong and other South African delicacies, basketry, candles and curios, 19th-century butter churns, plates and kitchen utensils, and clothing and straw hats. Visitors may also browse in Samie’s Victorian Wine Shop for a special vintage.

This lovely group of old buildings is representative of most of the architectural styles that have appeared in Stellenbosch over the centuries. Some parts of the Cape Dutch-style Rhenish Parsonage are much older than the date of 1815 that is marked on the building’s gable. Leipoldt House, which was built around 1832, is an interesting combination of Cape Dutch and English Georgian architectural styles, while the Rhenish Church, on the south side of The Braak (the town’s main square), was erected in 1823 by the Missionary Society of Stellenbosch as a training centre and school for slaves and “coloured” people. Also overlooking the Braak is St Mary’s-on-the-Braak, an Anglican church that was completed in 1852.

EXPERIENCE The Cape Winelands and West Coast

Founded in the 1920s, these gardens have a fine collection of ferns, orchids and bonsai trees, as well as tropical and succulent plants housed in four glasshouses. There is a pleasant tearoom under the shade of a red-flowering gum tree (Corymbia ficifolia), and university students can be seen revising on the lawns.

t An exhibition hall at the fascinating Stellenbosch University Museum

The interesting exhibition at the Stellenbosch University Museum focuses on anthropology, cultural history and art. Of particular interest to many visitors are the prehistoric artifacts, reproductions of San rock art, and crafted utensils and ritual objects from South, West and Central Africa. There are also a number of paintings depicting the Cape in the 19th century.

This complex features houses dating from Stellenbosch’s early settlement years to the 1920s, although the later houses are not open to the public. Schreuder House was built in 1709 by Sebastian Schreuder. It is the oldest of the homes and shows the spartan, simple lifestyle of the early settlers. Bletterman House belonged to a wealthy 18th-century magistrate, while the elegant Grosvenor House dates back to 1782, with later additions representing the Classicism of the 1800s. The interiors of the Victorian-style Bergh House reflect the comfortable lifestyle of a wealthy burgher of the 1850s.

Insider Tip

Self-Guided Walk

The best way to explore Stellenbosch’s historic buildings is by walking. A “Stellenbosch on Foot” brochure for a self-guided walk is available from the tourist information centre on Market Street.

Housed in the Rhenish Parsonage of 1815, this museum offers a world of enchantment for both young and old. It displays an amazing collection of toys, such as dolls and toy motor cars, and also contains a number of finely detailed and exquisite 1:12 scale miniature rooms, each with delicate filigree work.

t Soaking up the scenery during a hike through the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve

The Jonkershoek Nature Reserve lies in a valley 10 km (6 miles) southeast of Stellenbosch. The valley is flanked by fynbos, which in spring and summer includes tiny pink and white ericas, blushing bride (Serruria florida) and the king protea. Elsewhere, the waterfalls and streams of the Eerste River provide abundant water for hikers, mountain bikers and horse riders. For the less energetic, there is a 12-km (7-mile) scenic drive into the mountains. Baboons and dassies may be sighted, along with the elusive klipspringer if you are lucky.

The rich history of Van Ryn’s Distillery and Brandy Cellar in the heart of the Vlottenburg Valley just southwest of Stellenbosch dates back to 1845 when the Dutch immigrant Jan van Ryn arrived at the Cape. Today, well-known local brands Van Ryn and Viceroy are made here, and guided tours introduce the visitor to the intricate art of brandy production. A tasting is included in which brandy is paired with handmade Belgian chocolate and Brazilian coffee.

EXPERIENCE The Cape Winelands and West Coast