The third major destination in the Cape Winelands is Paarl, the town takes its name from the granite domes of Paarl Mountain, which looms above the town – Paarl is dutch for Pearl.
- A must see attraction is the Afrikaans Language Monument which is the world’s only monument dedicated to a language
- Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve has hiking, fynbos and picnic sites
- Paarl Arboretum has over 4500 trees, with 750 species from six continents
- Le Bonheur Crocodile Farm has over 1000 crocodiles and sells crocodile leather and meat
- Spectacular golf estates are located in Paarl and include Paarl Golf Club and Pearl Valley Signature Golf Estate and Spa
- Fairview Wine Estate is known for their wide range of cheeses, including cheddar, camembert, brie, blue- cheese, and goats milk cheese.
The picturesque town of Paarl is cradled between the Paarl Mountain with its magnificent 50 million year old granite boulders and the towering Du Toitskloof Mountain Range, which signals the perfect time to enjoy sundowners by ‘blushing’. The Berg River that flows through the valley is its life artery. Nestled in the valley are historic farms, restaurants offering culinary delights and welcoming accommodation. With its mixture of dramatic landscapes and tranquil vineyards, Paarl is a scenic paradise that embraces travellers. Nature lovers will delight in the rich bird life, fynbos and trees, while hungry visitors can satisfy their appetites at one of the many excellent restaurants.
Paarl is often considered the poorer cousin to Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, however the town is full of very interesting architecture and history.
Arguably the most famous destination in Paarl is the Taal Monument. Architect Jan van Wijks remarkable 1975 tribute to South Africa’s unique hybrid language – a mixture of Dutch, French, English, Malay, German and indigenous languages, all of them symbolically recognized in the monuments granite columns – is if nothing else a great picnic spot on the way to the winelands of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch. These days, Afrikaans is South Africa’s third most widely spoken language ( behind Zulu and Xhosa, ahead of English ! ) out of 11. However, when the monument was built, Afrikaans was heavily associated with Apartheid, the government policy of making it the only language of instruction in schools led directly to the Soweto uprising in 1976. In Cape Town alone, 28 people were killed as a result.
The mountain on which Taal Monument is built is know as the Paarlberg Nature Reserve and is a sanctuary for proteas and other fynbos plants, wild olives, orchids and patches of natural forest. Enjoy hiking paths, barbeque and picnic spots, which have been laid out. The small dams of the area are much favoured by serious anglers for the unusually large black bass they sustain. On the way to the summit you will pass the Mill Water Wild Flower Garden. Do make a brief stop here, especially if you are traveling in springtime when great carpets of yellow, orange and red blooms over the slopes.
From the top of Paarl Rock you will find an old cannon, a beacon and cave – one can take in the glory of the Berg River Valley, its towering walls and, in the distance, Table Mountain and the ocean. The Paarl Rock Mountain is very distinctive and during the rain it glistens like a Pearl. The name Paarl is derived from the Dutch word meaning ‘ Pearl’
