Tulbagh
Description
Tulbagh is a quaint town located in a picturesque mountain basin, surrounded by majestic escarpments on three sides, in the Western Cape. Situated just 80 minutes from Cape Town, Tulbagh features one of the most breath-takingly beautiful valleys in South Africa; producing top quality wines, olives, and fruits. Scroll down and book your favourite accommodation in Tulbagh.
The town of Tulbagh was founded in 1743 upon construction of the museum church. Named after the Cape governor, Ryk Tulbagh, Tulbagh has slowly developed over the years to include some of the finest examples of Cape Dutch, Victorian, and Edwardian architecture in South Africa.
Tulbagh is first and foremost famous for its notable wine route. Although wine has been produced on a commercial scale in Tulbagh for many years, it has only recently seen major expansions. Today there are many world-renowned wine estates in the Tulbagh Valley that produce award-winning red and white wines, as well as olive oil, peaches, grain, pears, and over 70% of South Africa’s plums. Wine estates to visit include the Blue Crane, Drostdy Hof, Lemberg, Manley, Montpellier, Rijks Private Cellar, Saronsberg, Theuniskraal, Waverley Hills, Twee Jonge Gezellen, and Tulbagh Winery where one can enjoy delicious wine tastings. Interestingly, Twee Jonge Gezellen was the first estate to introduce night harvesting in South Africa; a concept now used by many farms throughout the Cape.
The combination of friendly locals and captivating landscapes make Tulbagh an ideal country holiday destination. With beautiful weather all year round; bright green vineyards in summer, rich colours in spring, snow-capped mountains in winter, and a brilliant array of wildflowers in spring, people travel from far and wide to spend their holidays here. Even more recently, Tulbagh has become a popular location for weddings and conferences. In order to accommodate the influx of tourists, an abundance of top notch accommodation has sprung up in Tulbagh.
Tulbagh boasts a range of natural, cultural, and historical attractions that make it well worth visiting. Enjoy horse riding, hiking, fishing, and spa treatments in Tulbagh, as well as zip line adventures nearby in Ceres. Having lunch in a national monument or on a wine estate is a memorable experience, as is browsing the various arts and crafts stores. Don’t forget to pick up some delicious homemade cheeses at Kimilili Cheese Farm or some healthy snacks from Tulbagh Dried Fruit. Other places of interest include the Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area, the famous Route 62, Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve, Moniki Chocolates, and Saronsberg Theatre.
Historical attractions include the Earthquake Museum, Oude Kerk, and the Oude Drostdy (the original colonial Magistrate's complex). After the 1969 earthquake that shook Tulbagh, every historic home in Church Street has been painstakingly restored to its original glory. These 32 ancient buildings now form the largest concentration of National Monuments in a single street in South Africa.
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