For people thinking of buying a property in the Cape, Franschhoek, with its fascinating history and the prominent part it plays in the winelands, is a huge drawcard.
The locals have many stories to tell about their town and so do the various buildings and monuments in the town. The points of interest in Franschhoek are varied and include architecture, vineyards, museums and shopping areas.
Vineyards
Franschhoek is situated in the heart of the famous Cape Winelands and is surrounded by some of the oldest and newest vineyards in the Western Cape.
La Bri Vineyards
La Brie has a large wine cellar and tasting room to match. Their wine making methods are based on the traditional French Bordeaux and Rhone methods.
Le Petite Ferme Winery
Le Petite Ferme is another wine estate worth visiting in Franschhoek and even offers live music and a restaurant atmosphere on Friday nights.
Akkerdal Wine Estate
Akkerdal is situated in the very beautiful Franschhoek valley and is surrounded by magnificent mountains. You can enjoy your wine tasting while also taking in the fantastic views.
Franschoek Motor Museum
Franschhoek has two museums. One of them is the Franschhoek Motor Museum on the L’Ormarins Estate Winery. The owner of the estate has a collection of about 320 classic cars. At any point in time, about 80 of them will be on display in the 4 custom built garages. This would be fantastic experience for car lovers. You can also, of course, enjoy wine tasting while at the museum!
The Memorial Museum
This museum catalogues Franschhoek’s origins, and has information on the French Huguenots who settled in the Franschhoek valley. On exhibition are the tools they used for wine making, the type of clothing they wore during those times as well as information on their desire for a richer culture that brought them to the Cape.
Hugenot Museum
Next to the Memorial Museum is the Huguenot Monument. It was built as a dedication to the French Huguenots who came to the Cape in the 17th and 18th centuries. They had a heavy influence on the culture of the people in the Franschhoek area.
Huguenot Chocolate
This sumptuous chocolate shop is famous for its personalised touch, with chocolates being handmade using only the best ingredients. A tour of the shop includes watching how the chocolates are made and tasting them. A truly indulgent experience!
Wildlife and Nature
You can take a short trip out of Franschhoek to Drakenstein and look at the lions that are in this sanctuary. They have been taken in from zoos and shows because they would not be able to survive in the wild alone due to having lived most or all their lives in human captivity.
Also just outside of Franschhoek is Butterfly World. It is a very beautiful place with many colourful flowers as well as exotic butterflies from all over the world. It would be a perfect outing for the whole family.
Intrigued By Franschhoek? The Next Steps in Buying A Property There
Many prospective buyers have never before been introduced to a property buyers consultant, let alone used one. Buyers agents are common in many other countries, though, because they are buyer focused and help source and secure your ideal property (usually with large discounts). And in 99% of cases they are free of charge.
SAHomeBuyers is a property buyers consultant. Of course, we help search and secure that ideal Franschhoek property, but we also put great emphasis on all the other considerations – both good and bad. Our only goal is to serve your interests and help you make the best informed decision.
Learn more about SAHomeBuyers and arrange to talk to one of our property consultants by e-mailing us here or telephoning + 27 (0) 83 265 8800.
