~ Stellenbosch ~ Western Cape ~ South Africa ~

The historic town of Stellenbosch, the second oldest in South Africa, takes its name from Governor Simon van der Stel who in 1697 came upon this lush and well wooded valley and called it after himself. Van der Stel Manor commemorates the name of this far-sighted man who saw the potential of the settlement on the banks of the Eerste River but hardly realised that it would become the prime tourist centre of the Cape.

The avenues of oaks, the white-gabled houses, the vineyards, all bear testimony of the elegance of the Cape Dutch period. Today they are national monuments and are jealously guarded for future generations. Van der Stel Manor, built in the 18th Century style, honours this tradition.

Over the years Stellenbosch has grown into a vast academic and cultural centre. Its internationally acclaimed university draws thousands of students annually and the flourishing wine industry takes visitors along the wine route to celebrated cellars.

Stellenbosch is an excellent centre from which to visit the high spots of the Western Cape: the museum complex in the town itself, the largest wine cellar in Africa at Paarl, the Huguenot heritage in Franschoek, whale-watching at Hermanus, the spectacular mountain scenery of the Cape mountains - advice about all of which is provided by Swiss hosts Gertrud & Primus Kaelin Felchlin at Van der Stel Manor.

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