Founded in 1679 by governor Simon van der Stel, Stellenbosch was the second town to be established by European settlers in South Africa. It's situated 50km from Cape Town on the banks of the Eerste River - so named because it was the first river he encountered in the hinterland.
Introduction
"Stellenbosch is unique in the world." That was how Rose Jordaan, architect and wine farmer, described it during research for CapeInfo's interview with her husband Michael, FNB's CEO. Why?
It's a contained town. If you're a jogger, you can run all the way around it. And you can walk from edge to edge. It's a town that has been carefully managed and developers have largely been held in check to preserve a quality, historical urban fabric.
It's full of interesting people. Well it is a university town with over 25,000 students and houses nine multinational corporate HQs.
It's forever in transition, never boring. That's the nature of an academic and corporate hotspot.
It's the best place to raise children. And that's a frequently-made comment. It is a competitive town with high educational standards. Local school, Paul Roos Gymnasium dominates the list of top students at the University of Stellenbosch.
Commenting on high property prices, a professor from the Oral & Dental Hospital in Pretoria holidaying in Stellenbosch said that in one doesn't just buy property, one buys a lifestyle.
And that's what draws tourists to Stellenbosch. The ambience of historical architecture, the lively street scene and over 250 restaurants. And then there are the wine estates.
Hotels/Guest Houses
Self-catering
