Travel to Paarl

interesting historic quarter below the iconic rock

Paarl is located in the Cape Winelands area of South Africa.

Although Paarl is an historic settlement set in a beautiful broad valley, as a town it has neither the sophistication of Stellenbosch, nor is it as pretty or fashionable as Franschhoek.

Strung out below the domed rock from which the town derives its name, Paarl is rather more of a working town with a good range of historic buildings, considerable light industry supporting the agricultural sector and a huge urban sprawl to the east.

Most notably Paarl is home to two of the Cape’s largest and best known wine labels, KWV and Nederberg. Being large operations the wine tasting experience here is more of a commercial tour than the artisanal vineyards elsewhere, but can make for an interesting change of pace. But you don’t have to stay here in Paarl to access these wineries, they are less than an hour from both Stellenbosch and Franschhoek.

The stand-out accommodation option in this area is undoubtedly the historic Grand Roche Hotel.

one notable hotel of decent quality