Worcester

Worcester is surrounded by majestic mountains and green vall

Worcester is surrounded by majestic mountains and green valleys on the Garden Route in the Western Cape. Worcester is the largest wine-producing district in South Africa. Wocester is also the commercial mecca for many sattelite towns, with a fascinating cultural heritage and special schools for the disabled.

Wocester is the capital of the Breede River Valley and lies on the main route to and from Cape Town, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth, with a wide range of services and commercial activities.

Worcester is a town with a particularly impressive cultural heritage, and the museums provide a glimpse of the past, as well as lots of information for the tourist.

Worcester has much to see and experience, it is only an hours drive from Cape Town and is ideally situated to explore the surrounding towns, vines and valleys - a real eco-destination nestled between majestic mountain ranges and magnificent scenery. From here you can visit interesting towns like Tulbagh, Ceres or Robertson, or take a tour around the KWV Brandy Cellar Complex. Then theres the hospitality, the friendliness and the food.

‘Capital of the Breede River Valley’

The town of Worcester lies on the main route from Cape Town to Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth. Worcester was established in 1820 by Lord Charles Somerset, governor of the Cape Colony at the time, and named for his elder brother, the Marquis of Worcester. Today Worcester, with it’s well developed infrastructure, is the main commercial centre of the entire Breede River Valley and surrounding towns. The Breede River Valley, surrounded by high mountains and green valleys, is the largest grape producing region in the country, with 17 co-operative wine cellars and several brandy distillers in the Worcester district alone. The town is also known for producing a variety of dried fruit. One of the highlights of a visit to the town is the amazing architectural diversity of it’s buildings, with styles ranging from Cape Dutch through Georgian to Victorian and art deco to neo classical. The town has more gabled buildings than any other town in the Boland region. Worcester is well known for it’s schools for the blind and deaf. Several museums provide visitors with a glimpse into the town’s colourful past and are definitely worth visiting.

GENERAL INFORMATION

How to get there

The town of Worcester lies on the main route from Cape Town to Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth. Cape Town 110 km, Beaufort West 357 km, Robertson 50 km, Tulbagh 65 km

HISTORICAL VIEW

The Drostdy

The oldest building in town and a National Monument. A fine example of Cape Dutch architecture.

Historic Church Street

One of the best preserved historical street complexes in the country.

The Worcester Museum Complex

Encompasses the following: Afrikaner Museum built by Cornelius Beck in 1854 which houses the Worcester Publicity Association.

Beck House

Built in 1841, a Victorian house museum which gives an overview of the lifestyle of the people of the town in the 19^th century. It has on display a collection of yellowwood and stinkwood furniture, reputed to be amongst the best in the country.

Stofberg House

Dates back to 1920 and gives insight into professional life in the early days of the town.

NATURE

Karoo National Botanic Garden

Roux Way, Van Riebeeck Park (off National Road) The Karoo National Botanical Garden is totally unique in that it is the only truly succulent gardin in the southern hemisphere and on the African continent. One of the floral highlights of the year is spring when thousands of annuals and brightly coloured vygies come into flower. This colour spectacle lasts from mid-August to the end of September. A must for succulent lovers, this garden lies on the outskirts of Worcester, 120 kilometers from Cape Town. Falling within the Succulent Karoo biome which includes the Namaqualand flora so famous for it’s spring flowers, the garden boasts some 400 naturally occurring species. The garden is also a haven for rare and endangered plants, with over 300 species being protected and propagated. Almost 70 species of birds have been recorded in the garden, as well as a wide range of small mammals such as the Cape grey duiker. Approximately 11 hectares of the estate are cultivated whilst the remaining 144 are kept as a flora reserve which has several kilometers of nature trails. The garden is open 365 days a year from 08:00 – 18:00. Entrance to the garden is free with the exception of the two flowering months (usually August and September) when an entrance fee is charged over the weekends. The garden is clearly sign posted from the N1 just outside Worcester.

Special Features

Khoisan kookskerm

An etho-botanical garden displaying plants used by the people of Namaqualand.

Organised Tours

Tours of the succulent collections are available by special arrangement (14 persons per group).

Plant Maize

Porkwood Plant Maize

Plant Sales

There is a well stocked nursery with over 500 indidgenous species and seed of over 200 indigenous species.

Shop

Botanical society books, seed and curios

Trails

Braille Trail, just under 1 km with information boards in Braille. Karoo Trail, illustrating the fascinating regions of the Karoo such as the Little Karoo, Great Karoo, Hantam Karro etc. Shale Trail approximately 1,7 km in the natural karroid koppies illustrated with information boards.

ATTRACTIONS

Brandvlei Quaggaskloof Dam

Recreational facilities have been developed at the Brandvlei Dam, 5 km from Worcester on the road to Rawsonville. The dam is excellent for all types of watersport, including yachting. Quaggaskloof is part of the bigger Brandvlei Dam. The Brandvlei Dam is home to the Worcester Yacht Club, while Quaggaskloof is home to the Worcester Waterski Club.

Kleinplasie

Situated on the roat to Robertson, Kleinplasie is home to the agricultural show grounds, an open-air museum, restaurant, wine cellar and the Breede River Tourism Office. The wine cellar offers a selection of the region’s wines, and is worth visiting should you not have the time to visit the various cellars on the wine route.

Kleinplasie Living Open-Air Museum

Demonstrations of traditional activities such as the baking of bread, candle making, distilling of witblits, sheep shearing, cheese making etc. there is a large collection of period farm buildings and implements.

Kleinplasie Reptile World

Snakes, leguans and crocodile pits, 30 different snake species, farm animals and braai area.

Tractor Rides

To the top of the Du Toitskloof Mountains.

Du Toitskloof Resort

Workshop for the Blind

Homemade cane furniture and weaving are sold to the public.

Workshop for the Deaf

A wide range of handicrafts for sale

Hugo Naude House

Home of the well known landscape painter, Pieter Hugo Naude (1868 – 1941). Built in 1904, the house today serves as an art gallery, whose collection includes works by Naude, Jean Welz, Paul du Toit and sculptor Bill Davies.

KWV Brandy Cellar

The largest brandy distillery of it’s kind in the world. Daily tours are conducted in Afrikaans, English, French and German.

Worcester Wine Route

ACTIVITIES

4x4 Route

Angling

Worcester Dam

Carp, black bass and barber. Also bird watcher’s paradise. Located on the outskirts of town.

Brandvlei Dam

Carp, whitefish, bluegill, Bigmouth and Small mouth black bass. Camping spots, braai and ablution facilities.

Quaggaskloof Dam

Carp, whitefish,bluegills, Bigmouth and Smallmouth black bass. Ablution facilities, electrical points.

Cape Gliding Club

Worcester is home to the Cape Gliding Club. With excellent weather conditions prevailing in the region, flights of up to six hours, with a maximum height gained of 8540 m, have been recorded.

Trout fishing

The art of trout fishing may be pursued in the rivers of the Du Toitskloof Mountains, or in the well stocked dams of the Du Toitskloof Resort. There is also a trout shop, stocking fly fishing tackle, fresh trout, souvenirs and permits.

Worcester Golf Course

This beautiful and challenging course was developed by the Gary Player Group and is situated 3 km north of the town on the N1 route.

Accommodation in and around Worcester