Situated between the West and Overberg coasts, around 40 kms east of Cape Town, the Cape Winelands district is an area of spectacular scenery, as well as being renowned for its world class wineries and restaurants, historic towns and Dutch homesteads. Set against the scenic backdrop of mountains, the area is also popular for outdoor activities, including hiking and mountain biking.
The area of Franschhoek, with its quaint village, beautiful landscape, vineyards and a wonderful choice of restaurants, is also a definite must-visit destination on any trip to the Western Cape. Franschhoek was first colonised by the French Huguenots in 1692, and French culture and architecture is still very visible, including annual festivals, ranging from the Bastille Festival, to wine, champagne and cheese festivals. Other stops on the Wine Route include Stellenbosch, an area offering magnificent views, a beautiful landscape, historic manor houses, and some of the finest wines in South Africa. The famous Wine Routes also include Constantia, Helderberg and Durbanville.