Experience the best of Franschhoek

Franschhoek, Dutch for French Corner, lies in a valley ringed by mountains in the Cape Winelands, east of Stellenbosch, and was settled in 1688 by Huguenots, French Protestants who fled persecution. The Huguenot Memorial Museum and a large monument at the head of the main road tell their story, and white Cape Dutch gabled houses stand among vineyards, oak trees and rose gardens.

The valley's wine estates make Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Syrah and Cap Classique sparkling wine, and many sit within walking or cycling distance of the village on Main Road. The Franschhoek Motor Museum shows classic cars on a wine estate. The Franschhoek Pass climbs steeply from the valley head over the mountains towards Villiersdorp and the Overberg, Paarl and Stellenbosch are close, and Cape Town is about 75 kilometres to the west.

Cape Malay and Cape Dutch dishes appear on menus, among them bobotie, spiced minced meat baked with an egg custard, and malva pudding, with potjiekos, a stew cooked in a three-legged iron pot, and the braai, or barbecue, at weekends. The grape harvest runs from January to March, the vines turn gold and red in autumn, and winter rain makes the valley green.