The town of Stellenbosch lies in the green and fertile fertile valley of the Eerste ("first") River, only 41 km from Cape Town and in the heart of the South African winelands. It is the second oldest town in South Africa after Cape Town and was founded by Governor Simon van der Stel in 1679, who named it after him.
One cannot help but stand in awe of the magnificent countryside surrounding the town of Stellenbosch. Nestled in one of the world's most beautiful valleys, it is overlooked by the forested heights of Papegaaiberg (Parrot Mountain).
The town itself is just as charming as its setting with furrows and oak trees, some dating from the 19th century, lining the streets. Thick-walled, limewashed buildings with thatched roofs and timberwork of stinkwood and yellowwood, dating from the same era, have been wonderfully preserved. One can see it at its best, perhaps, along Dorp Street, which has the longest row of historic buildings in the country and around Die Braak, the village green once used for military parades and festivals.
The Village Museum in Reyneveld Street is a collection of these historic houses dating from a number of eras, meticulously restored and furnished in period style, the gardens planted with the flowers, shrubs and trees that would have graced the original homes.
Stellenbosch boasts a number of fine old churches and religious institutions of a variety of denominations. These include the first Dutch Reformed church consecrated in 1687, the St Mary's Anglican Church (built in 1852), the old Lutheran church in Dorp Street, completed in 1851 and the Renish Mission church on the Braak.
The 25 ha Jan Marrais Nature Reserve within the municipal boundaries is a wild flower sanctuary of the first order.
The Libertas Pavia is on the corner of Old Strand Road and Dorp Street. It's an elegant, gabled mansion incorporating both the Rembrandt van Rijn art gallery (with works by leading 20-th century artists, including Pierneef, Van Wouw and Irma Stern) and, in its cellar, the Stellenryk Wine Museum (huge old vats, Cape furniture and brassware).
For something totally unique, Oom Samie se Winkel in Dorp Street is a must. This shop, which is crammed with traditional homemade preserves, South African sweets and other bric-a-brac, is the oldest of Stellenbosch's shops.
Stellenbosch University is one of the largest residential universities in South Africa. The Ou Hoofgebou ("old main building"), which is still in use, dates back to 1881 and is an example of the fine old buildings found within the university campus. It also owns two art galleries and a botanical garden. The university's sports fields at Coetzenburg are legendary for the many Springboks it has produced.
For those interested in wine, Stellenbosch and the area surrounding it offers many cellars and museums worth visiting. The Oude Meester Brandy Museum on the Old Strand Road offers a wide range of relics of a fascinating past and an insight into the present. The Bergkelder (on Papegaaiberg, next to the railway station) offers tours and tasting.
The Oude Libertas Centre, opposite Stellenbosch Farmers' Winery is extremely popular for its open air shows of music, drama, ballet and opera, held in the outdoor Amphitheatre. The Lanzerac Hotel on the Jonkershoek road is a stately Cape Dutch mansion with excellent restaurants, a wine cellar, a museum and an art gallery.
Just outside of Stellenbosch one can find some of the most attractive vineyards, estates and homesteads of the Western Cape. More than 20 of them are situated along the Stellenbosch wine route and each is worth visiting for its cellar tours and wine tastings; for the sustaining lunches provided by many of them, and for the beauty of the surrounding countryside. Some of these include Avontuur, Blaauwklippen, Delaire, Delheim, Hartenberg and Morgenhof.
Stellenbosch is a town worth visiting, not only for its fine wines, but also for its well-preserved Cape Dutch architecture, several museums, its magnificent surroundings and the unique and exquisite restaurants and coffee shops.
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