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    Cape Wineland

    South Africa

    Cape Wineland

    Region

    The Cape Winelands begin about an hour's drive east of Cape Town and are the most famous wine region in Africa. Amidst rugged mountain ranges lie hundreds of wineries with Cape Dutch manor houses, along with the historic towns of…

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. South Africa
    7. Cape Wineland
    The Cape Winelands begin about an hour's drive east of Cape Town and are the most famous wine region in Africa. Amidst rugged mountain ranges lie hundreds of wineries with Cape Dutch manor houses, along with the historic towns of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl.
    The three main towns each have their own character: Stellenbosch is a university town with a historic center, Franschhoek a mountain valley with Huguenot heritage and many top restaurants, Paarl the region's largest town at the foot of a striking granite mountain. They are connected by mountain passes like the Helshoogte Pass. Many wineries offer tastings, restaurants, and art collections; some require a reservation. Those who taste don't drive themselves: there are wine buses, tours, and the Wine Tram in Franschhoek. The grape harvest falls in late summer from February to March.
    Franschhoek

    Place 1 of 3

    Franschhoek

    Franschhoek is located in a valley surrounded by mountains, approximately 75 kilometers east of Cape Town. Huguenots settled here at the end of the 17th century, a fact commemorated by the Huguenot Monument and many French winery names.

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    Paarl

    Place 2 of 3

    Paarl

    Paarl is the largest town in the Cape Winelands, about 60 kilometers northeast of Cape Town. Above it rise the smooth granite domes of Paarl Mountain, from which the town gets its name: After rain, they glisten like pearls.

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    Stellenbosch
    Steven Morrow / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

    Place 3 of 3

    Stellenbosch

    Stellenbosch is the centre of the Cape Winelands, about 50 kilometres east of Cape Town.

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    Round trips through this region

    Cape & Winelands

    Cape & Winelands

    Cape Town, the Cape Peninsula, and the Winelands are in close proximity: Table Mountain, penguins at Boulders Beach, the Cape of Good Hope, and wineries in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek can be combined in eight to ten days without long drives.

    9 Days
    4 stops

    Nearby

    Stellenbosch

    Stellenbosch

    Stellenbosch is the centre of the Cape Winelands, about 50 kilometres east of Cape Town. The university town, founded in 1679, is, after Cape Town, the country's second-oldest European settlement, with Cape Dutch gabled houses under ancient oaks and well over a hundred surrounding wineries.
    Paarl

    Paarl

    Paarl is the largest town in the Cape Winelands, about 60 kilometers northeast of Cape Town. Above it rise the smooth granite domes of Paarl Mountain, from which the town gets its name: After rain, they glisten like pearls. All around are large wineries such as Fairview and KWV.
    Franschhoek

    Franschhoek

    Franschhoek is located in a valley surrounded by mountains, approximately 75 kilometers east of Cape Town. Huguenots settled here at the end of the 17th century, a fact commemorated by the Huguenot Monument and many French winery names. Today, the town is considered a culinary center of the Cape Winelands, accessible notably via the Franschhoek Wine Tram.
    Cape Town

    Cape Town

    Cape Town is situated between Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean and, with approximately 4.8 million inhabitants in its metropolitan area, is South Africa's second-largest city. The city combines colonial history, the memory of Apartheid on Robben Island, and a vibrant restaurant and art scene with beaches, hiking trails, and wine regions right on its doorstep.
    V&A Waterfront

    V&A Waterfront

    The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is Cape Town's redeveloped old harbour, with Table Mountain as its backdrop. Amidst fishing trawlers, seals, and historic harbour buildings, you'll find shopping centres, restaurants, hotels, the Zeitz MOCAA, and the Two Oceans Aquarium. Ferries to Robben Island also depart from here.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Unsplash. Each photo carries its credit.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI