Paarl

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(Taalmonument) Afrikaans Language Monument.
(Taalmonument) Afrikaans Language Monument.

Paarl [1] is the third-oldest town in South Africa and located approximately 60km to the north-west of Cape Town. It is famous for having one of the world's largest rock outcrops.

[edit] Get in

Paarl is about 60km from Cape Town. The easiest way to get there from Cape Town is by car is to follow the N1 North, however one can also get there by train or bus.

[edit] Get around

As with most of South Africa it is best to use a rented car.

[edit][add listing] See

  • Afrikaans Language Museum, 11 Pastorie Ave, ☎ +27 (0)21 872 3441 (), [2]. Monday to Friday 9AM to 4PM. Die Afrikaanse Taalmuseum explores the origins of the Afrikaans language. Discover how Afrikaans' development was influenced by Dutch, Malay-Portuguese, French, German, English, Arabic and the indigenous Khoi and African languages. The museum’s focus is on experience – its interactive, multimedia exhibitions give the visitor a hands-on experience of Afrikaans, its history, its dialects, its people and its peculiarities, including interesting place names and nicknames. This museum, although very small in comparison to most other museums, is regarded as one of the leading institutions in South Africa in the field of displaying intangible heritage. In Oom Gideon se Winkel visitors can buy books, CD’s, T-shirts with Afrikaans poems, and craft and delicacies from years gone by. Closed: public holidays. Entrance fee: R10 adults R5 students R2 children.  edit
  • Die Vonds Snake Park, ☎ +27 (0)21 869 8309. Monday to Saturday, 9:30AM to 5:30PM. Snakes, monitors, tortoises and other animals and birds. edit
  • F.S. Smit & Co., 10 Lyon Street, ☎ +27 (0)21 863-1032 (fax: +27 (0)21 863-2931). Traditional wine cast manufacture with showroom edit
  • Strooidak Church, Main Road, ☎ +27 (0)21 872-4396 (, fax: +27 (0)21 872-9370). One of the oldest and most historic churches in South Africa. edit
  • Taalmonument, ☎ +27 (0)21 872 3441 (), [3]. Monday to Sunday 8AM to 5PM (8PM Sep to Apr). The Afrikaans Language Monument was unveiled in October 1975. The main 57 meter column symbolises the Afrikaans language while the other columns, domes and walls represents the contribution of the European, indigenous African and Malay languages that have contributed to the development of Afrikaans. A restaurant is located at the monument and the elevated location of the monument provides good views over the Paarl Valley. Entrance fee: R10 adults R5 students R2 children.  edit
  • The Paarl. One of the worlds largest granite outcrops. edit
  • The 12km long Paarl Main Road. The longest main road in South Africa. It boasts a mix of Cape Dutch, Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco architecture. edit
  • Paarl Bird Sanctuary, Drommedaris Street, ☎ +27 (0)21 868-2074 (fax: +27 (0)21 868-2507). Home to Hartlaub's Gull, Greyheaded Gull, Cape Shoveller, African Black Duck, Cape Reed Warbler, African Rail, Little Bittern and other species edit
  • Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve, Jan Phillips Mountain Drive, ☎ +27 (0)21 872-3658 (fax: +27 (0)21 807-8054). During summer the park is open 7AM to 7PM, during winter 7AM to 6PM. Fynbos landscape and wild olives dominated by massive rounded granite rock formations. edit

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit] Wine related

Visit one of many wine estates

  • Boland Kelder, ☎ +27 (0)21 862-6190 (, fax: +27 (0)21 862-5379), [4]. Monday to Firday, 8Am to 5PM. Saturday from 8:30AM to 1PM. Cheese and wine tasting Under the Tree edit
  • KWV wine Emporium, Kohler street, ☎ +27 (0)21 807-3007 (, fax: +27 (0)21 807-3119), [5]. Open for wine tasting Monday to Saturday from 9AM to 4:30PM. Cellar tours Monday to Saturday at 10AM, 10:15AM, 10:30AM and 2:15PM, the tour starting at 10:15AM is conducted in German. Home of some of the best wines and brandies produced in South Africa edit
  • Laborie Estate, Taillefret street, ☎ +27 (0)21 807-3390 (fax: +27 (0)21 863-1955). Open from October to April every Monday to Sunday from 9AM to 5PM.  edit
  • Nederburg, Sonstraal Road, Daljosafat, ☎ +27 (0)21 862-3104 (, fax: +27 (0)21 862-4887), [6]. Monday to Friday 8:30AM to 5PM, Saturdays 10AM to 2PM.  edit
  • Rhebokskloof, Paarl, ☎ +27 (0)21 869-8386 (, fax: +27 (0)21 869-8504). Open 365 days a year, 9AM to 5PM.  edit
  • Ruitersvlei, Suid-Agter Paarl Road, ☎ +27 (0)21 863-1517 (, fax: +27 (0)21 863-1443). Monday to Friday 8:30AM to 5PM, Saturdays from 8:30AM to 3PM, Sundays from 11AM to 3PM.  edit
  • Simonsvlei, ☎ +27 (0)21 863-3040 (, fax: +27 (0)21 863-1240), [7]. Offers cellar tours, wine tasting and olive tasting edit

[edit] Adventure

  • Wineland Ballooning, ☎ +27 (0)21 863-3192. Go on a Hot-Air balloon over the Berg River Valley edit

[edit] Hiking

There are a number of hiking trails in the area, ranging from short walk to multi-day trails.

  • Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve, ☎ +27 (021) 872-3658. A number of trail run through the reserve, ranging from 2.4km to 10km. edit
  • Laborie Wine Hiking Trail, ☎ +27 (0)21 708-3390. See the cape flora and birdlife on the Laborie Estate edit
  • Limietberg Trail, ☎ +27 (0)21 871-1536. A two-day trail of 36km. Start at the foot of the Du Toitskloof, then to Bainskloof village and on to Tweede Tol.  edit

[edit] Other

  • Le Bonheur, Babilonstoren Road, ☎ +27 (0)21 863-1142 (). A crocodile farm. Try a crocodile pie or buy crocodile leather articles edit
  • Valley Gun Club, On the R312 towards Durbanville, just outside Paarl, ☎ +27 (0)83 325-4764. Open Wednesdays from 2PM and Saturdays from 12PM. The largest clay target shooting club in South Africa and host to the 2010 DTL Trap World Championships. Trap, Skeet, Trench and Sporting. edit

[edit][add listing] Buy

Fairview.
Fairview.
  • Wine. From any of the wine estates. Do a number wine tasting trips first and find out what you really enjoy. Most estates will ship to your home address so you don't have to cart the bottles around while you travel. edit
  • Fairview Cheese, ☎ +27 (0)21 863-2450, [8]. Fairview specializes in goats milk cheeses edit
  • Ikhaya, 185 Main Road, ☎ +27 (0)21 872-5831. Arts, Crafts and Gifts edit

[edit][add listing] Eat

There are a number of fine restaurants are situated along the Main Road and most of the wine estates also have their own restaurants on site.

[edit] Budget

  • At Ease Cafe, 191 Mainroad, ☎ +27 (0)21 872-2781. Teusday to Saturday from 11AM till leate. Sundays from 11AM to 5PM. Ovenbaked pizza and pasta, homemade pies edit
  • Kostinrichting Coffee Shop, 19 Pastorielaan, ☎ +27 (0)21 871-1353 (fax: +27 (0)872-3599). Light meals edit

[edit] Mid range

  • Taal Monument Restaurant, ☎ +27 (0)21 863-2800 (, fax: +27 (0)21 863-1797). open Thursday to Saturday from 8:30AM to 10PM and Sunday to Monday from 8:30AM to 5PM. A la Carte and Sunday buffet edit
  • Dros, Wineyard Centre, Main Road, ☎ +27 (0)21 863-0350. A South African steakhouse franchise edit
  • De Leuwen Jagt Restaurant, On the Seidelberg wine estate, ☎ +27 (0)21 863-5222.  edit

[edit] Splurge

  • Bosman's at the Grande Roche, Plantasie street, ☎ +27 (0)21 863-2727 (, fax: +27 (0)21 863-2220), [9]. One of the top 10 Restaurants in South Africa according to Wine Magazine.Supurb winelist edit
  • Laborie Restaurant, Taillefer Street, ☎ +27 (0)21 807-3095 (, fax: +27 (0)21 807-3094). 9AM to 4PM daily. Cape Provincial Cuisine and traditional foods edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

Wine and brandy. Visit any of the wine estates that offer wine tasting. Also see the Do section

[edit][add listing] Sleep

  • A'Queenslin, 2 Queen Street, ☎ +27 (0)21 863-1160 (). Privately run B&B, situated next to the Paarl Mountain Reserve edit
  • Alba House, 16 Lille Street, Contrai, ☎ +27 (0)21 863-0292 (), [10]. Privately run B&B in upmarket residential area. Book with Ivana. edit
  • Berg River Resort, ☎ +27 (0)21 863-1652 (). Self catering chalets and caravan park on the Berg River edit
  • Best Western Goedemoed Manor House, Cecilia Street, ☎ +27 (0)21 863-1102 (, fax: +27 (0)21 863-1104), [11]. Near the city center. edit
  • Klein Waterkloof (Behind Agter Paarl Church on the R44), ☎ +27 (0)21 869-8950 (). A smallholding among the vineyards with Cape Dutch cottage rooms. From R150 per person sharing.  edit
  • Mooi Bly Landgoed, Bo Dal road, Dal Josafat, ☎ +27 (0)21 868-2808 (), [12]. Five thatched cottages between the vineyards. From R120 per person sharing.  edit
  • Mountain Rest, ☎ +21 (0)21 872-0451 (, fax: +27 (0)21 886-5827). At the foot of the Du Toitskloof mountain, bordering Hawequa Nature reserve From R350 per cottage per night.  edit
  • Pontac Manor, 16 Zion Street, ☎ +27 (0)21 872-0445 (, fax: +27 (0)21 872-0460), [13]. Situated at the slopes of 'Paarl Rock'. This Victorian style hotel dates back from 1723 and has been beautifully restored. TV, air conditioning are available. edit

[edit] Stay healthy

[edit] Hospitals

  • Paarl Hospital, ☎ +27 (0)21 872-1711.  edit
  • Paarl Medi-Clinic, ☎ +27 (0)21 807-8000.  edit

[edit] Get out

Paarl is located in the center of the Cape Winelands, within proximity of the major town of Stellenbosch. It is also near Cape Town. You can reach all main attractions within 30 to 45 minutes (except the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point).

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