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    Paarl

    South Africa

    Paarl

    CityCulture

    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.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. South Africa
    7. Cape Wineland
    9. 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.

    Sights in Paarl

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    1Cruze Electric Scooter Rentals

    Attraction in Bosch.
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    2Paarl Rock

    One of the large granite boulders of Paarl Mountain in its namesake Nature Reserve. The climb to the rock's summit is steep; chains assist on the final passage. From the top, you gaze over vineyards all the way to Table Mountain.
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    3Afrikaanse Taalmonument

    The 1975 monument on the slopes of Paarl Mountain honors the Afrikaans language and its roots in European, African, and Asian languages. The curved concrete forms represent these influences. From the site, you have sweeping views over the valley.
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    4Fairview Wine and Cheese

    Well-known winery with its own cheese dairy and goat herd. At the tasting, sample wine and cheese; lunch is served in the restaurant. Often full on weekends, arriving early pays off.
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    5KWV Emporium

    Visitor centre of major wine producer KWV in Paarl. At tastings, sample wines and brandy; on tours, see the cellar with its large wooden barrels.
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    City walks in Paarl

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    Paarl's Historic Center: A Walk Through Wine and Heritage

    Discover Paarl's rich history and winemaking heritage on this leisurely walk. From iconic Cape Dutch churches to wine cellars steeped in tradition, immerse yourself in the charm of this historic town in the heart of the wine region.

    ~2 Std. 30 Min.
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    Stops (6)

    Essen & Trinken

    Cucina Di Giovanni at Laborie

    Restaurant in Corner Taillefert & Main Road Laborie Estate.
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    Knus Karoo Kombuis

    Bakery in Bovenland.
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    Afrikaans and Wine

    From 1687, Dutch settlers established themselves here, followed shortly by French Huguenots. Paarl is considered the cradle of Afrikaans as a written language: in 1875, a society was founded here that first published books and a newspaper in Afrikaans. The Taalmonument and the Afrikaans Museum in the town commemorate this. Nelson Mandela spent his final years of imprisonment in Drakenstein Prison near Paarl and was released from there in 1990.

    Traveling

    You can reach Paarl from Cape Town via the N1 in about 45 minutes. In the centre, you can get around on foot, but for wineries and the nature reserve, you'll need a car, Uber, or a guided wine tour.

    Accommodations in Paarl

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      Sunrise over alpine peaks and a sea of clouds
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      • 1Cruze Electric Scooter Rentals3 days
      • 2Paarl Rock4 days
      • 3Afrikaanse Taalmonument5 days
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    Nearby

    Cape Wineland

    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    Western Cape

    Western Cape

    The Western Cape is the province around Cape Town. Here lie Table Mountain and the Cape Peninsula, the Winelands around Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, the Whale Coast around Hermanus, and the western part of the Garden Route.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Unsplash. Each photo carries its credit.
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