Follow hiking trails, go bike or horse riding or indulge in some trout fishing. Absorb Franschhoek’s French heritage at the Huguenot museum or enjoy a round of golf at one of the many golf estates in the area – or simply catch a tan at the pool.

La Fromagerie at La Grange

While you're out visiting the local wine estates, neutralize your palate with some cheese tasting – you can choose from over 30 delicious South African varieties – or enjoy a cheese-centred lunch on the verandah of the converted 200-year-old barn at La Fromagerie.

Huguenot Fine Chocolates

Visit this quaint Belgian chocolate shop for a decadent lesson in chocolate making and indulge in some fine chocolate tasting during the show. You'll be tempted to continue the chocolate “tasting” long afterwards too.

The Flying Company

Go on an airborne adventure in one of The Flying Company's helicopters for magnificent views of this splendid part of the country.

Franschhoek Hiking Trails

• Conquer the Boland hiking trail beginning at 'Jan Joubert se Gat'
• Hike up Du Toit's Kop (medium gradient)
• Wind your way up the old ‘Cat se Pad' walking trail for a more sedate walk
• Table Mountain can be seen from Breakfast Rock at the Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve, so make a morning picnic out of this walk
• Take sundowners up to the top of the Franschhoek Pass

• Enjoy a challenging round of golf at Pearl Valley Golf Estate, Jack Nicklaus' latest offering to the golf world, one of the championship golf courses in the Winelands
• Dive into the crystal rock pools found along the Franschhoek Pass
• There are many fly-fishing venues in the Franschhoek valley
• Paraglide off the Franschhoek Pass into the village
• Franchhoek has tennis courts that can be reserved and hired out
• Rent a mountain bike and explore the valley at your leisure

Wine Tasting on Horseback

For something more unusual, various Franschhoek wine estates offer wine tasting tours on horseback around their farms.

Picnics

Picnic in the lavender fields or herb garden of Bien Donne Werf farm and learn about their fruit research. Or take your basket to Chamonix, Dieu Donne, Boschendal or Riverside next to the Berg River.

Franschhoek Music

Jazz lovers will appreciate the live jazz outside La Grange on Friday evenings, while classical listeners are not forgotten with monthly classical concerts held at La Motte wine estate.

Franschhoek Heritage & Culture

Take a tour of Mooiwater township or Pniel, the first town of the free slaves. Visit the Huguenot Memorial Museum for a history lesson on the Franschhoek settlers. Professor Rust will educate you on the heritage and the flora of the valley. For some French-Huguenot architecture, visit the Boschendal Manor (1685), Burgundy Bourgogne farm or the thatched Dutch Reformed Church (1847).

David Walters at Roubaix House Gallery showcases some of the best South African art and promotes local artists. Watch artist David Walters himself throw clay. Make your own Shona sculpture at the Munhutapa Gallery at Boschendal.

Franschhoek Shops

The village centre boasts an array of art shops, galleries and specialist stores trading items such as Cape furniture, African and tribal artifacts, cottage furniture and scientific instruments, amongst others.

Watch carpet weavers at work on hand-knotted carpets at Kei Carpets. The street market is open on Saturdays and the ‘Kuns Ronvaart', an arts & crafts and antiques route around the village, is another interesting alternative.

Be sure not to miss out on the many interesting Franschhoek tourist attractions available in this beautiful area, along with the magnificent wine estates and golf estates in the Winelands.

Things to Do and Places of Interest in and Around Franschhoek

Approximately thirty minutes' drive from Franschhoek one can also find Paarl or Stellenbosch with larger shopping malls and various other attractions such as:

• Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve
• Afrikaans Language Monument and Afrikaans Language Museum
• Bird Sanctuary – along the banks of the Berg River featuring 136 species
• Snake Park, Ostrich Farms, Crocodile Farm and Butterfly World
• Sasol Arts Museum
• University of Stellenbosch Botanical Gardens
• Stellenbosch Village Museum
• Oom Samie se Winkel – A typical village shop in existence for many years
• Ballooning

This is a day’s trip and really worth the visit. On your way there take the coastal route from Gordon’s Bay and return over the Franschhoek pass from Villiersdorp. The scenery there and back is worth the trip and Hermanus is a beautiful town. It is also known as one of the best spots in the world for whale-watching - the months of August to September are the best time.