Bye bye Cape Town, Hello Paarl!

  • by Amazing Africa
  • 01 Feb, 2018

Don't dare pass by this lovely town, full of things to see and do. Part 2 of our "Blog through Route 62" 

Paarl, Cape winelands, SouthAfrica, Roadtrip
With so much to see and experience in Cape Town,  it is hard to imagine that you have 24 exciting stops ahead of you on the Route 62. And Paarl does not disappoint, with its 12km main street packed with quaint, interesting little shops, coffee shop's and restaurants.  And then of course, the myriad of wine farms to choose from. 

The absolute must visit of Paarl is the "Taal Monument", which was finally built in 1974 , thought the idea was aired originally in 1942, but there was never funding to build the monument. It represents the strength of Afrikaans as a language, as felt by the local community.  You can read more about the monument here
Paarl Monument, Paarl, Cape Winelands, South AFrica
Taal Monument, Paarl
Another outdoor essential siting (if you enjoy the outdoors, that is), is the Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve, and Bretagne Rock. You can spend many hours here, as it offers an array of hiking and cycling paths, Bass fishing and the Mill water Wild flower Garden. 
Bretagne Rock, Paarl.
Bretagne Rock, Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve
Mill water Wild Flower Gardens, Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve, Cape Winelands, South Africa
Mill water Wild Flower Gardens, Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve
Historians will enjoy taking a little tour around some of the old architecture that Paarl offers, dating back to the 1800s. The famous Sir Herbert Baker lived in Paarl, and is often said to have started the "Cape Dutch Revival" trend  in the style of buildings, which lasted close on 30 years.
The Huegenot Church also known as
The Huegenot Church also known as "Strooidakkerk", completed in 1805.
The Spice Route Farm is an excellent option if you enjoy an authentic, but eclectic experience, showcasing proudly South African produce. You can taste biltong, sample home made chocolate, watch some of the best glass blowing artistry in the country and enjoy some local craft beer, wine tasting, amongst many other surprises.  Keep in mind there are a variety of wine farms to visit in Paarl, though we are not focusing on them in this blog post (we try to be a little different to the rest!). 
Cape Brewing company , Spiceroute Farm, Paarl, South Africa
Cape Brewing Company, Spice Route Farm
We have just touched on the things to do and see, but depending on the time you have at your disposal you may have to select one or two, as the town of Wellington is just a 20 minute drive away, with more to explore in our next "Blog-Through Route 62" 

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