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    WELCOME TO
    Paarl


About Paarl

The scenic beauty of Paarl compels visitors to explore the many cultural and historical attractions in the Drakenstein Valley, together with some of the most bountiful nature reserves in the surrounding mountains.

Paarl takes its name from the huge granite outcrop that stands proudly on the crest of Paarl Mountain. The town was founded in 1687, is the third oldest settlement in South Africa and has a rich cultural and historical heritage.

The birth of Afrikaans as the world’s youngest language is celebrated by the iconic Afrikaans Language Monument that stands prominently on the southern slopes of Paarl Mountain.

The town has many fine examples of Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian and Cape Dutch buildings that compete for space with a wide variety of fine restaurants and coffee shops spread out along the twelve kilometre-long Main Street.

Just outside Paarl is the Drakenstein Prison, where Nelson Mandela spent his last years of captivity and from which he completed his “long walk to freedom”.

Paarl boasts true country hospitality, award winning wine farms and estates, and a plethora of accommodation to suit both your requirements and budget.

The town provides excellent conferencing venues and some of the most idyllic wedding venues in the Cape Winelands. Revel in beautiful fynbos-rich walks and hiking trails, cycle along superb mountain-biking trails or take a relaxing drive through the countryside to enjoy the spectacular scenery, followed by a leisurely lunch and fine wines from the region.

Wine farms
- Ayama Wines
- Black Pearl Wines
- Boland Kelder
- Druk-my-niet Wines
- Fairview
- Freedom Hill Vineyards
- Grande roche
- Hawksmoor House
- Kleine Draken
- KWV Sensorium
- KWV Wine Emporium
- Laborie Wine Farm
- Landskroon Wines
- Mellasat Vineyards
- Mitre's Edge
- Nederburg Wines
- Olsen Private Vineyard
- Painted Wolf Wines
- Pearl Mountain
- Perdeberg Winery
- Rhebokskloof Wines
- Ridgeback Wines
- The Mason's Winery
- Under Oaks Wines
- Vendome Wine Estate
- Windmeul Kelder

BEERS AND BRANDY

1. Berg River Brewery:
Berg River Brewery is the partnership of two old friends coming together and doing something they both love. Both living by the ethos of ‘doing what you love’, Glenn and Shaun each bring their own flavour to the brand.
The beers on offer include: Helles Lager; Blonde Ale; Kristal Weizz and Pale Ale. Definitely worth a visit!
http://www.bergriverbrewery.co.za/

2. KWV Wine Producers:
KWV is one of the leading wine and spirits producers in South Africa and has a distinguished heritage, celebrated around the globe, of product innovation and exceptional brands. These include Roodeberg, KWV Wines & KWV Brandies, and Laborie.

In the heart of Paarl, KWV offers a few experiences you may enjoy! The KWV Wine Emporium invites you to join them on a cellar tour of their world-renowned facilities and taste from their range of over 100 KWV products.
They also have the KWV Sensorium which displays a selection of award-winning wines and brandies whilst you enjoy some fine South African Art.
In addition the Laborie Estate and Harvest Restaurant offers a friendly winelands adventure for the family. From wine, art and heritage to sprawling picnics on the lawn, there's something for everyone.

3. The Spice Route

--The Barley & Biltong Emporium is a new and truly unique offering to South Africa:

Boasting with one of the best views of Table Mountain and the Paarl Winelands, Barley & Biltong is a beer garden with a local twist. Craft beer and biltong lovers can look forward to enjoying an ice cold pint of their favourite CBC beer together with our carefully selected range of Beef, Kudu, Eland and Springbok biltong. We also offer satisfying gourmet burgers and hand cut double-fried chips.
*Please note – we do not offer biltong tasting

Sunday – Thursday : 10:00-17:00
Friday – Saturday : 10:00-18:00
Breakfast available on weekends 09:00 – 11:00
Our bar and kitchen closes 30 minutes prior to closing time

--The Cape Brewing Company:
The Cape Brewery Company, also known as CBC, produces and offers a wide range of beers using only the finest ingredients, state of the art equipment and is made by the highly skilled Brewmaster, Wolfgang Koedel.

Beer lovers can view the facilities where they can follow the entire beer production process and thereafter taste it either on tap or at the tasting stations.
Monday - Sunday : 10:00-17:00
021 863 2270
info@capebrewing.co.za | www.capebrewing.co.za
Standard tasting: R30 for 4 beer tasters ( 4 x CBC beers )
Master tasting: R40 for 6 beer tasters
(4 x CBC beers + 2 x Jack Black beers )

--In addition, there is wine tasting available on the Spice Route:
Renowned for its hand-crafted wines from the Swartland region, with exotic names such as Chakalaka and Malabar, Spice Route Wines can now be enjoyed at its new home in the Paarl Winelands.
Enjoy our award winning wines in a rustic underground tasting room, or outside under the pergola or laze on the rolling lawn, whilst enjoying the panoramic views of Table Mountain and the Simonsberg Mountain range. The relaxed and informal atmosphere, as well as the tranquil surroundings, creates the perfect setting for a memorable tasting experience.
www.spiceroutewines.co.za

--De Villiers Artisan Chocolate:
Our resident chocolate maker, DV Artisan Chocolate is crafted by the De Villiers family and is one of few ‘Bean to Bar’ micro batch chocolate makers in the world. All DV Artisan Chocolates are hand-crafted and available for tasting on the farm.

-- Red Hot Glass
Red Hot Glass is one of very few Venetian-style glass blowing studios in SA. Each piece is unique, from exquisite hand-blown perfume bottles to elegant vases and wonderful abstract statues. Red Hot Glass graces some of the top hotels and galleries in the world.

4) Olive Tastings:
The Olive Industry in South Africa is comparatively young when compared with Mediterranean countries where olives have been cultivated for many centuries.

De Hoop Farm, uniquely situated adjacent to the main road, has played a pioneering role in the development of the olive industry. The farm’s ancient avenue of olive trees dates back to the earliest plantings on the farm and in 1907 De Hoop’s olive oil was voted the “best olive oil in the empire” at a London show.

The budding olive oil industry developed under the guidance of Italian immigrant, Fernando Costa, who imported and propagated a number of different cultivars. Since then the industry has grown rapidly and we have over 300 olive growers and producers in the country.

Visit Buffet Olives or Cascade Manor or Vesuvio Olive Estate

Family activities include abseiling, the Anglo Boer War Monument, Ceres Zipline adventures; a crocodile farm; various natures reserves and more.


Quick Facts

Province: Western Cape
Country: South Africa

Why go?

- Afrikaans Taalmonument (Language monument)
- Paarl wine estates
- Berg River Brewery
- Brandy and wine tasting at KWV
- The Spice Route (The Barley & Biltong Emporium, Cape Brewing Company, Artisan Chocolate and more
- Olive Tasting at Vesuvio Olive Estate
- Abseil Paarl Rock
- Anglo Boer War Monument
- Ceres Zipline Adventures
- Graceland Venues
- Le Bonheur Crocodile farm
- Paarl Mountain Reserve
- Alpaca Loom
- Escapetrix
- Hiking trails

History icon

History

The first of these exploratory expeditions, led by the fiscal Abraham Gabemma, arrived in the valley in 1657. The granite rocks atop the mountain were glistening in the sun after a rain shower, so Gabemma named the area "de Diamondt en de Peerlberg” (diamond and pearl mountain).

The town was settled from 1687 onwards and consequently, some of the finest examples of Cape Dutch architecture are found around here, some of which can be seen alongside the 12km-long main road, along with a mix of Victorian and art deco buildings.

A lovely example of such a Cape Dutch manor can be found at the well-known Nederburg wine estate. This H-shaped homestead, completed in 1800, has a beautifully proportioned Cape Dutch gable and is fitted with yellowwood shutters, beams and doors and Batavian floor tiles.

Another of Paarl's claims to fame is as the birthplace of Afrikaans as a written language. It was here that a group, calling themselves Die Genootskap van Regte Afrikaners (The Society of True Afrikaners), first committed the language, that had previously been referred to as 'Kitchen Dutch', to print in 1876.

This relationship with the Afrikaans language is commemorated in the form of the Afrikaans Language Monument and Museum that was built on the slopes of Paarl Mountain in the mid-1970s.



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Places Nearby

View everything this beautiful place has to offer


Food stalls ogpas1
Berg River Brewery
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The Spice Route
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Vesuvio Olive Estate