Western Cape Article - South African Vacations

HISTORY AND ARCHITECTUREBoschendal Estate: Boschendal Estate is a beautifully restored house in Cape Dutch style.This estate once belonged to Cecil John Rhodes, one-time Prime Minister of the Cape andfounder of Rhodesia.Huguenot Monument and Museum: The Huguenot Monument and Museum recalls the historyof the Protestant refugees. Persecuted by King Louis XIV because of their religious beliefs,the French Huguenots fled to the Cape and many of the refugees were given land by theDutch government. The impressive Huguenot Memorial, set in beautiful gardens, forms thefocal point of this attractive town.PAARLThe large commercial centre of Paarl is situated on the banks of the Berg River This town,whose name means “Pearl” owes its name to two massive granite boulders on the mountainoverlooking the town. The founder Abraham Gabemma, in 1657, saw the granite rockglistening in the sun after a rainstorm and named it Pearl Mountain. The town originated in1720 when a church was built and residential stands laid out. Paarl is surrounded by fruitorchardsand vineyards and linked to neighbouring regions by spectacular mountain passes.Paarl is the birthplace of the movement to obtain recognition of Afrikaans as an officiallanguage in place of Dutch and has significant monuments to Afrikaner culture.ADVENTURE AND SPORTBike Point: Guided cycling trips are offered to explore Paarl and the Winelands.Fynbos Trails: These are guided horse-rides that explore the foothills of theHawequa Mountains.182