Area Information

Lose yourself in this French corner of the Cape. Franschhoek has a unique feel of little Europe and is known as the Food and Wine Capital of the Cape. This quaint town is only a 45 minute drive away from Cape Town. Enjoy the wine estates, many restaurants and other local mouthwatering delights that tantalize taste buds. Feel the history amongst the museums that document the French Huguenot exodus to Africa.

After many years of ruthless persecution as heretics by the Catholic church, a large contingency of Huguenots fled France and sailed for The Cape of Good Hope on the 31st December 1681. The Huguenots were French Protestants who were member's of the Reformed Church which was established in 1550 by John Calvin. François Villion and the brothers François and Guillaume du Toit had however already settled in the Drakenstein valley in an area they named Franschhoek.

This large scale emigration was a boon to the growing colony as many of the French emigrants were tradesmen and experienced wine farmers. The Dutch East India Company loaned tools, seed and other assistance to those who wished to farm, with view to there being a trade return.

Many of the now well known South African surnames bare witness to this heritage - de Klerk (Le Clercq), de Villiers,Visagie (Visage), du Plessis, du Toit, Fourie, Fouche, Giliomee (Guilliaume), Hugo, Joubert, and Labuschagne (la Buscagne), le Roux, Malan, Malherbe, Marais, Theron, Jordaan (Jurdan) and Viljoen (Villon), Blignaut, TerBlanche.

Whether you have lived in Franschhoek for years, have just moved here, live in a neighbouring town, are visiting or just passing by: take time to explore this wonderful town! Visit www.myfranschhoek.info for more information and attractions in Franschhoek.