EXPLORE Franschhoek

Situated in the Cape Winelands, 75km from Cape Town, this quaint town is one of the oldest in South Africa.

Set on the slopes of the beautiful Hawequ Nature Reserve, Franscchoek is known around the world for its exquisite beauty and unrivalled ambience. The streets are reflective of the original French Huguenot architecture, moulded with a classic Victorian feel. 

Such a rich and vibrant environment has been cultivated over centuries leading back to the first French Huguenot refugees to settle in the area back in 1688. Given land by the, then Dutch government, the area’s name has changed from Olifantshoek (“Elephants Corner”), to le Coin Francais (“the French Corner”), and eventually to Franschhoek (“Dutch for French Corner).

In close proximity to the equally famous wine town of Stellenbosch as well as driving distance of the apple orchards of the Elgin Valley, Franschhoek provides a centred base for travel throughout the Southern Tip of the Western Cape.

The summers are ideal, with the winters seeing snow on the peaks of the mountains. The town has its own wine tram, various wine, chocolate and beer tours and plenty of world-class restaurants. 

The village is alive with art galleries, boutique stores and it's own Elephant and Barrel Pub, specializing in over 30 beers. Along with the popular watering holes along the famous Franschhoek strip are large amounts of boutique restaurants that are perfectly designed to cater to tastes of any kind. From Reuben’s, to The Taxi Restaurant and gourmet meals at Haute Cabriere, there are plenty of choices to satisfy a wide variety of taste buds.

The accommodation in Franschhoek is just as plentiful as the food and wine options, in both variation and amount. From self-catering apartments, houses and villas, to budget hotels and luxury 5 star establishments, Franschhoek certainly does have something for everyone. Famous with tourists looking for the world-renowned wine experience that South Africa has to offer, the town comes alive over the weekend and especially during the summer, when the Franschhoek accommodation becomes tough to secure. Even with the abundance of accommodation options in Franschhoek, the summer months of October through to April often tend to see full bookings for the popular hotels in the area.

That is where the budget hotels and self catering accommodation in Franschhoek come into play, providing some relief for tourists wanting to visit the area and especially with locals wanting to stretch their rands as far as possible.