Things to do

There are many activities and things to do in Franschhoek from hiking to sitting at the side walk cafes and watching the world go by. A list follows of some of the more obvious things to do.

  • Visit a wine farm: Franschhoek has some of the most stunning scenery in the wine world and some of the Cape’s best wines. The wineries range from very large to small family-run farms. They are all a few minutes’ drive from Akademie Street Boutique Hotel and Guest House. You can also visit several of them by bicycle or on horseback. You can also book the Franschhoek Wine Bus if you do this a few days in advance info@adventurewinetours.co.za. Of course the best way is to hire a car or let us organise transport or specialised tours for you. Generally it is more fun and cheaper to self-drive but if you wish to be picked up from somewhere or taken on day trips we can organise this for you.
  • Hire bicycles and explore: Franschhoek has stunning scenery and a host of mountain bike and hiking trails or else get taken on mountain paths or wine tasting with a guide: Manic Cycle - info@maniccycles.co.za
  • Go fly fishing: La Ferme fly fishing Mercedes@laferme.co.za
  • Hike around the village outskirts or in the nature reserve high in the mountains overlooking Franschhoek or behind the gorges in the Berg River Dam or on the trail around the La Motte farm.  One can walk around Babylonstoren beautiful new formal garden largely planted with typical old Cape plantsl
  • Go for a guided walk with a historian or a geologist: Izak Rust – icrust@iafrica.com
  • Go fly fishing: La Ferme fly fishing – 10 minutes drive Mercedes@laferme.co.za
  • Play golf nearby:
  • Golf….. a little bit further a field:
  • Go wine tasting on horse back or just ride through the vineyards and fynbos Paradise Stables - www.paradisestables.co.za / Rayanne at Delta Crest - montrochelletrails@mtnloaded.co.za
  • Visit the valley museums:
    • Grande Provence – The gallery
    • Roubaix House gallery – ceramics by David Walters and his daughter Sarah
    • Glen Carlou Fine Art Gallery – The Hess Collection
    • IS Art Gallery – at Le Quartier Français
    • La Motte Gallery – From the Rupert collection especially woks of Pierneef
    • Ebony – in Franschhoek Square
    • Red Hot Glass – in Heritage Square
  • Visit museums and monuments in nearby towns (30 – 45 minutes drive):
    • Afrikaans Language Monument – on the slopes of Paarl Mountain with its unusual rocks and a nature reserve
    • Wellington Museum – small interesting Egyptian section
    • Stellenbosch Museum – four houses from the earliest house in Stellenbosch to one from the Victorian era
    • Rupert Museum – the art collection bequeathed to Stellenbosch by Anton and Huberte Rupert
    • Sasol Art Museum – Stellenbosch
    • Stellenbosch Botanical Garden – very small garden with an interesting plant collection
    • Vergelegen – a beautiful old Cape Dutch Manor house, garden and wine farm in Somerset West
  • Pamper yourself at one of the many health spas: Holden Manz Spa / The Treatment Room at Le Quartier Français / L’Ermitage / Espirit de Beauté / Franschhoek Health and Skin Care Clinic
  • Visit the gym at the Franschhoek Health Club: – visitors staying with us pay a special discounted price
  • Visit the chocolate factory: Tours can be booked before hand huguenot@wol.co.za
  • Take a scenic helicopter trip: info@flyingcompany.co.za
  • Visit a Farmer's market: Every Saturday at Oude Libertas in Stellenbosch and at Laborie in Paarl and in summer a small market under the trees at the Dutch Reform Church in Franschhoek
  • Shop at the village’s antique, craft and diamond shops:
    • For top of the range diamonds and Tanzanite speak to Tracey’s diamonds
    • For lovely custom-made jewellery using various gems dŭ Toit Classique
    • For gems and sterling silver Penchant Design
  • Sit at the side walk cafes and watch the world go by

Festivals 2011 - 2012

2012 DateFestival
4 FebruaryFranschhoek Lions MTB
4 FebruaryAdventure Race Trail Run
4 FebruaryBlessing of the Harvest at Môreson winery
4,11,18,25 Feb.Solms-Delta summer Concert Season
5 FebruaryGroot Drakenstein Games Club six-a-side league cricket
9 FebruaryDine with the wine makers of Holden Manz, La Bri, Rust and Vrede and Tokara
10 FebruaryCardio Challenge n aid of Franschhoek Hospice
19 February Mozart Matinee at Allee Bleue
25 FebruaryGrande Provence Harvest Festival
3,10 MarchSolms-Delta summer Concert Season
25 MarchFranschhoek Oesfees at Solms Delta
4 AprilFranschhoek Valley Grand Prix
4 AprilDelta Draf Run
11-12 MayFranschhoek Literary Festival
14-15 JulyBastille Festival
15 JulyBastille Festival Classic Mountain Bike Race
1-2 SeptemberFranschhoek Uncorked
1 SeptemberUncorked Mountain Bike Race
27-28 OctoberFranschhoek Gardens
30 Nov.-1 Dec.Cap Classique and Champagne Festival