| Franschhoek
 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'
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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
Franschhoek
Sport Activities
-
 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
Hermanus
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.
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