55 Things To Do In Franschhoek Which Don’t Require Wine
Written by Jaillan Yehia
Mirror on sale at Toca Madera Country, Franschhoek
There’s more to the South African Winelands than the name suggests. But you can’t fit 55 different activities into a place name now can you?
Are there really 55 Things to do in Franschhoek other than drink wine?
Well actually there are 54 things to do on this list – and then you deserve to pop a cork and have a glass of wine to celebrate!
1. Re-live Nelson Mandela’s ‘long walk to freedom’, at Groot Drakenstein prison
2. Watch the sunset from the top of the Franschhoek Pass
3. Go fly-fishing
4. Visit the Farmers’ Market
5. Work off your indulgences at the health club
6. Hike the Boland Trail
7. Take photographs of the stunning valley and mountains
Valley views at L’Ermitage Franschhoek Chateau and Villas
8. Play boules
9. Have a spa day
Franschhoek: Super for sculpture
10. Try your hand at paragliding.
11. Marvel at the Motor Museum
12. Have a game of tennis on the Franschhoek courts
13. Get butterflies
14. Take a helicopter ride
See the winelands from the air
15. Go horse riding
16. Hire a bike and go cycling in the mountains
17. Visit Le Quartier Francais’ art gallery
18. Hike to the top of Du Toit’s Peak
19. Picnic at Boschendal, or alongside the river at Solms Delta
20. Play golf at Pearl Valley, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course
21. Go for a run through the vineyards
Franschhoek Vineyards
22. Pick up a permit and map at the Information Centre and explore the Mont Rochelle Reserve
23. Visit the historical Groot Drakenstein Games Club with the first turf wicket in South Africa
24. Walk through the orchards and vineyards behind Mont Rochelle Winery, past two dams, to reach the beacon
25. Visit in September for Franschhoek Uncorked
26. Listen to live jazz on Friday evenings at Vineyard Brasserie
27. Read the Franschhoek Tatler over a coffee in the centre of town
Coffee time?
28. Attend the monthly classical concert in the historical cellar at La Motte
29. Watch a play at the Bridge House theatre
30. Visit a micro-brewery
31. Visit in July for the Bastille Festival
32. Watch the chocolatiers making their wares at Huguenot Fine Chocolates
33. See the resident potter in action at the Franschhoek Live Craft Centre
34. Browse the art in the local galleries
Art at the Holden Manz gallery
35. Learn how to make bread at Bread and Wine, on Môreson Estate
36. Sample locally made Franschhoek beers at Dieu Donné
37. Take a charcuterie class
38. Support street children with a meal at Bread & Wine Restaurant
39. Listen to live music at the Elephant & Barrel English pub
40. Amble around the Boschendal manor house built in 1685
41. Stock up on olives at The Olive Shack
42. Shop for antiques
43. In December check out the Champagne Festival
44. Take a stroll up the ‘Cat se Pad’ walking trail
45. Shop for arts, crafts and homewares at Toca Madera Country
46. See the largest collection of corkscrews in Africa at The Old Corkscrew
47. Visit Museum van de Caab
48. Admire the Cape Dutch architecture
Cape Dutch architecture
49. Try the locally made Schnapps at Chamonix
50. Browse and buy indigenous plants at Pink Geranium nursery
51. Visit the Huguenot Memorial Museum to find out more about Franschhoek’s heritage
52. Experience a crocodile farm
53. Watch master potter David Walters
54. Visit the thatched Dutch Reformed Church built in 1847 – or one of the other 4 churches in town
55. Ok, maybe once you’ve done all that, you can treat yourself to a glass of wine at one of the many vineyards around town…
Time for a well-earned glass of wine?
Savoir There was a guest of L’Ermitage Franschhoek Chateau and Villas
Tags: Franschhoek, South Africa, Winelands
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