Cape Town - Durbanville

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Geography and History

Durbanville is situated North of Cape Town in one of the fastest-growing areas in the Western Cape, South Africa. There is a wonderful mix of modern and old-world charm, and is the ideal place for visitors to stay looking to be close to Cape Town, while absorbing the peaceful surrounds of the town.

The town was founded in the early 19th century around a fresh water spring. Durbanville was first known as Pampoenkraal (from the Afrikaans words pampoen which means pumpkin, and kraal meaning corral - an enclosure for animals).

In 1836 the village of Pampoenkraal was renamed D’Urban in honour of the Governor of the Cape Colony, Sir Benjamin d'Urban, until 1886 when it was renamed to Durbanville in order to avoid confusion with Durban - a major port city in the east of South Africa.

Afrikaans and English are the main languages spoken in Durbanville, although the majority of the town have Afrikaans as their first language.

Accommodation

Durbanville has a variety of accommodation options available from Guest Houses, Bed and Breakfasts to Self-catering units.

Things to Do and Place to See

There are many beautiful things about this old town, but the highlight must be to see the picturesque historical buildings dotted around, accentuating the Cape’s Colonial history.

An excellent shopping centre, the Tygervalley Shopping Centre is a short drive away, while the main highways into the various surrounding areas are minutes away, making Durbanville conveniently situated for both business and leisure activities. The newly developed Tygervalley Waterfront, is a must see for any visitor to the area.

In this part of the world lies a closely guarded secret, the Durbanville Wine Route. Wine farming started in Durbanville in the 17^th century, when farmers planted vineyards with Cape Madeira, the white grape of the time. Many of these farms now form part of the Wine Route today, and have award-winning wines, cultivated by generations of wine-makers. These wines can be sampled during the week.

Rust en Vrede : The building dates back to 1850. It was originally a prison. Today, it has a coffee shop, hosts the local craft market (held on the first Saturday of every month), a Clay Museum and an Art gallery.
Durbanville Nature Reserve : Lovely picnic area, amongst the unique fynbos.
Onze Molen (a restored mill).
King’s Court (a 1905 residential building).