Franschhoek Snapshot
Franschhoek is best known for its supposed French origins, wine and culinary delights. The valley and dramatic mountains rising up on three sides are beautiful but the town is nothing to jump up and down about. If you come expecting to find an oak-lined mini-Stellenbosch, urban Franschhoek can be a tad disappointing, comprising a sunbaked main street of B&Bs and restaurants sporting posh names that not even locals can get their tongues around. Despite this, Franschhoek is thriving, thanks to savvy marketing and the attention shown by tour buses and foreign investors. Although accommodation consists almost entirely of upmarket guesthouses, all has not been lost to foreign currency as there are still a handful of affordable self-catering options scattered about the valley.
Things To Do
- Three things make Franschhoek tick: food, wine and picturesque surrounds. The town has fashioned itself as the gourmet capital of the Cape and every building that isn’t a guesthouse or ‘antique’ shop is a restaurant or sidewalk café. Many of them are excellent and expensive, others just plain expensive – so choose wisely. A number of the surrounding wine estates have eateries of their own.
- Get sozzled along Franschhoek’s Wine Route or ‘Vignerons de Franschhoek’, as it likes to be called. Don’t try to cover all 20 or so estates in one morning – thereishalwaysh tomorrow. Many of the wine estates are virtually in town and accessible by bike or foot, others a short drive by car.
- Hike, walk or crawl the Boland Trail, which offers two- and three-day options. Better still, warm up first with Cats Pad, an historic walk along the Franschhoek Pass that was built by Jan Cats in 1819, then proceed to Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve, another attractive option with several day hikes.
- Horseriding, mountain biking and birdwatching are other possible outdoor pursuits. Again, Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve and the La Motte plantation are best suited to these pastimes. The Mont Rochelle Equestrian Centre and Paradise Cottages and Stables are your contacts for horseriding.
- Apart from the beautiful Cape Dutch architecture of the wine estates, Franschhoek has few buildings of great cultural significance, though you may like to visit the Huguenot Monument and the Museum in the village; both depict the French contribution to the area.
- Take the scenic Franschhoek Pass, pull over at the top, pull the cork, and watch the African sun drop into the horizon’s penny-slot.
Little Willow Brooke
Franschhoek, Western Cape
Little Willow Brooke is ideally appointed: within easy walking distance of Franschhoek’s hub, yet in atmosphere, miles from anywhere. Perched above a bubbly stream that meanders through a rush ...
Rate Guide
From R1450, depending on unit, guests and time of year
Courchevel Cottages
Franschhoek, Western Cape
Simple elegance framed by postcard views down the Franschhoek Valley pretty much sums up Courchevel Cottage. What's more, this rustic-romantic little hideaway sits on the rim of the Chamonix es...
Rate Guide
From R2700 to R3200, depending on unit, guests and time of year
Where You'll Also Find Us
Arniston (Waenhuiskrans) • Barrydale • Beaufort West • Betty's Bay • Bonnievale • Bot River • Bredasdorp • Caledon • Calitzdorp • Cape Agulhas and Struisbaai • Cape Town area • Ceres • Citrusdal • Clanwilliam & Cederberg • Darling • De Rust • Franschhoek • Gansbaai • George • Grabouw & Elgin Valley • Greyton • Heidelberg • Hermanus • Knysna • Ladismith • Laingsburg • Lamberts Bay • Langebaan • Malgas • Matjiesfontein • McGregor • Montagu • Mossel Bay • Napier • Oudtshoorn • Paarl • Paternoster • Plettenberg Bay • Porterville • Prince Albert • Pringle Bay • Pringle Bay, Betty's Bay and Kleinmond • Riebeek West and Riebeek-Kasteel • Riversdale • Riviersonderend • Robertson • St Helena Bay • Stanford • Stilbaai • Strand, Gordon's Bay and Somerset West • Swellendam • Tulbagh • Uniondale • Velddrif • Vermaaklikheid • Wellington • Wilderness • Witsand • Worcester & Hex Valley • Yzerfontein • Baviaanskloof • Cape St Francis • Cape St Francis & St Francis Bay • East London • Graaff-Reinet • Hogsback • Jeffreys Bay • Makhanda (Grahamstown) • Middelburg • Nieu-Bethesda • Rhodes • Sutherland