Stellenbosch is widely regarded as one of South Africa’s most beautiful towns with a diverse and rich cultural heritage. Two of our country’s greatest cultural accolades are found in Cape Dutch Architecture and the Afrikaans language, both of which abound in Stellenbosch’s leafy suburbs which, incidentally, is South Africa’s second oldest town. Stellenbosch was founded in 1679 by Simon van der Stel, the then Governor of the Cape Colony and is thus named after him. The town became the centre for vineyards and fruit cultivation and the numerous oak tree’s that shade the town’s street were originally planted by Van der Stel himself. Hence the popular name of “Eikestad” for this restful Cape settlement set in rolling hills with brooding mountains as a backdrop for the spreading vineyards and old buildings. Much of the gracious thatched homes were sadly destroyed in the fires of 1710 and 1803 but much of the historical Stellenbosch still remains. Dorp Street

alone is home to numerous National Monuments, all of which bear silent testimony to Stellenbosch’s history as an important centre of Afrikaner learning and culture.