Discover Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch is internationally renowned for its beautiful environment, wine farms, street cafés, restaurants, quality
wines, historical buildings and its famous university.
Stellenbosch owes its existence and name to the former governor of the Cape, Simon van der Stel, who established this
settlement on the banks of the Eerste River in 1679, making it the second-oldest formal settlement in South Africa.
Today, it's a beautiful town, characterised by oak-lined streets and whitewashed buildings, many of Cape Dutch origin
(although most of the town burnt down in 1710 and was rebuilt after that date), and lies between the imposing Simonsberg
and more modest Papegaaiberg ('Parrot Mountain').
Did you know? British soldiers who failed to show valour on the battlefield during the Anglo-Boer War (also called the South African
War) were sent to Stellenbosch. This led to the use of the town's name as a verb: to be 'Stellenbosch-ed'.
Visit on any given day, and you will immediately realise that this is a university town, with students whizzing by on
bicycles and many sidewalk cafés and restaurants. It's an idyllic setting to explore on foot.
The town is centred around the university, which is one of the leading universities in the country, renowned for its law
and engineering faculties. It also offers courses in viticulture, the primary agricultural industry in the area, as it
lies in the heart of the Cape winelands.
Many leading wine estates are located here and are home to some of the best restaurants in the country. Look out for
Rust en Vrede, Jordan and Terroir, all of which have made it on to the Eat Out award list for the top 10 restaurants in
the country.
Among the oldest and most developed wine estates close to town (about 10km away) is Spier, which was originally
established in 1692. Today it offers a host of activities for visitors, from Segway tours to wine tasting, picnics and a
bird of prey exhibition (called Eagle Encounters). There's also a hotel and several restaurants from
which to choose, as well as an amphitheatre that plays host to the annual Spier Performing Arts Festival. Other estates
to consider visiting include Delheim, Thelema, Tokara and Blaauwklippen.
Art lovers are also well-catered for here with several collections of note. Among them is the Rupert Museum, showcasing
the private collection of the Rupert family and featuring some 350 artworks of famous South African artists, among them
Pierneef and Irma Stern.
On the outskirts of Stellenbosch is a beautiful valley called Jonkershoek, which leads to a nature reserve of the same
name located in a cul-de-sac in the mountains. This area is popular with hikers, trail runners and mountain bikers, and
is well worth the detour as the scenery here is nothing short of breathtaking.