Paarl & Tulbagh, Winelands, South Africa

Paarl is the largest town in the Winelands with a beautiful, and very long, main street lined with oak trees and Cape Dutch houses.  Wine growing in South Africa began in the 1680s when the French Huguenots brought viticulture to South Africa.  Paarl was established in 1720 and rapidly became the centre for wagon building due to its proximity to the towering Boland mountains.  Granite domes above the lovely old town of Paarl glisten in the sun like pearls, hence the town’s name which is Afrikaans for pearl. These are the largest granite domes in the world after the Rock of Gibraltar. However, Paarl also played a leading part in the development and promotion of the Afrikaans language. The Afrikaans Language (Taal) monument on the top of Paarl Mountain and its museum pay testament to this fact, and also offer glorious panoramic views over the whole of the Cape winelands. The KWV Wine Cellars is still the largest exporter of wine and the tours of the vast cellars (covering 22ha) are fascinating. The famous Cathedral Cellar with its barrel-vaulted roofs features carved red wine vats depicting the Cape's winemaking history. 

To the north, bordering on the southern Cedarberg lies the pretty village of Tulbagh. An earthquake rocked Tulbagh in 1969 measuring 6.5 on the Richter's Scale. However this gave Tulbagh the chance to restore their houses to their original appearance (which was not the rage in 1960’s town planning anywhere in the world). Now Church Street is one of the most complete Cape Dutch streets in South Africa with 32 houses given National Monument status. Visit the Oude Kerk Volks museum, sample the wines of Tulbagh’s wine estates and enjoy a delicious lunch at the Paddagang restaurant which serves delicious authentic Cape dishes under an enormous grapevine in its courtyard.

Some of our favourite Paarl hotels include Roggeland Country House and Grande Roche Hotel, both known for their superb cuisine … though very different in ambience.

Attractions in and near Paarl
• Enjoy some of the best wine estates in the Winelands on the Paarl Wine Route
• Visit the Taal Monument on the Paarl Rock
• Enjoy the Paarl Nature Reserve
• Sample gourmet cheese and wine at Fairview Wine & Cheese Estate
• Tour the KWV wine cellars
• Take the scenic drive along the top of Paarl Rock
• Take the dramatic Bains’ Kloof pass to Tulbagh

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