Napier, Western Cape
Encyclopedia
Through rolling hills of Canola, wheat and barley, you’ll find the charming village of Napier at the foot of the Soetmuisberg, between Caledon
and Bredasdorp
. A blend of century-old cottages and modern houses, surrounded by the rolling farmland which typifies the Overberg
region of South Africa
, give the village a delightful rural atmosphere.
The popularity of Napier has increased dramatically during the past few years. Napier is now rated by the Tourism Board as the fourth most attractive village of the Western Cape after Montagu, Greyton and McGregor, all of which are within an easy drive of Napier itself.
This picturesque village is revitalising itself with folk lovingly restoring old homesteads and properties – rekindling the charm and beauty of the original architecture. The town buzzes with activity, yet without the frenetic ‘rushing’ often experienced in large towns.
Napier was founded in 1838 when through a dispute between two neighbours, Michiel van Breda & Pieter Voltelyn van der Byl, over the location of the community church.
Michiel van Breda wanted the church sited on his farm, Langefontein, while Pieter Voltelyn van der Byl wanted it built on his property, Klipdrift. Neither van Breda nor van der Byl would give way, so churches were built in both places, the town of Bredasdorp growing around van Breda’s church and the town of Napier founded around van der Byl’s church, and being named after Sir George Thomas Napier
, the British governor of the Cape Province at that time.
The Feeshuis, one of the oldest buildings in the town, was used as slave quarters during 1810–1820, and and then later as a wine cellar, was restored in 1988 to celebrate the town's 150th anniversary. The Dutch Reformed church was built in the form of a Greek cross with teak interior, unique with a beautiful pipe organ made of solid yellow copper. A toy museum and a watermill, a giant sundial at the municipal offices, and an ox Wagon monument (Kakebeenwa) to commemorate the Ossewa Trek of 1838 are some of the attractions you may want to view. The ox wagon monument has an impression of a wagon wheel track made in concrete to commemorate the well-known exodus of the dissident Afrikaners from the Western Cape
Along the main road you will find many restaurants, galleries and a host of interesting collector’s shops. Other activities include horse riding, hiking (Grootberg trail) and tractor rides, and rare species of fynbos as well as flocks of the South African national bird, the blue crane, can be seen in the area
The sundial was erected by Danie du Toit in 1965, who had no training in this field but gained his knowledge through meticulous observation. Time can be read from it, accurate to within 30 seconds.
In the distant past, Napier's main craftsmen were historically blacksmiths, a heritage which is commemorated by the annual Horse and Cart Festival. Other popular annual events are the Patatfees (Sweet Potato Festival), every June, and the Voet van Africa (Foot of Africa) Marathon which is run in mid-September.
With its narrow streets and quaint architecture, Napier is a town full of charm, and the beauty of the surrounding countryside is certain to enrich all and, impact to wish to return to enjoy the ambience of Napier again.
Napier is ideally situated in the Cape Agulhas
Region with easy access to the seaside villages of Arniston
/Waenhuiskrans, Struisbaai and L´Agulhas, which are just 30 minutes drive southward. If you want a quiet retreat amongst fynbos
, barley and wheat fields, then look no further. You can ideally use Napier as a base to explore the Overberg or just relax.
This picturesque village is revitalising itself with folk lovingly restoring old homesteads and properties – rekindling the charm and beauty of the original architecture. The town buzzes with activity, yet without the frenetic ‘rushing’ often experienced in large towns.
Choose to break your journey at one of the excellent restaurants or eateries. From fine dining to wholesome homely fare, there will be something to suit all tastes among the friendly and welcoming choices you will find dotting the main thoroughfare.
Browse through quaint and interesting shops, ponder on the excellent artwork displayed in local galleries, taste the wines of the region and the new local vineyards, meet the locals as you browse and wander in this intriguing ‘hub’ of the Overberg.
Explore the town away from the main road – artist’s studios, cheese makers, home made preserves, an ice cream factory, a brewery, a wine maker, experts in the beautiful ‘fynbos,’ walking trails, horticulturalists, herb gardens and much more.
Napier is the perfect place to stay if you wanted a ‘base’ from which to explore the region – it has all the amenities and hospitality needed to serve as the launching pad to your travels around the region.
Caledon, Western Cape
Caledon is a town in the Overberg region in the Western Cape province of South Africa, located about east of Cape Town. it had a population of 10,650. It is located in, and the seat of, the Theewaterskloof Local Municipality....
and Bredasdorp
Bredasdorp
Bredasdorp is a town in the Southern Overberg region of the Western Cape, South Africa, and the main economic and service hub of that region. It lies on the northern edge of the Agulhas Plain, about south-east of Cape Town and north of Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa.-History:The...
. A blend of century-old cottages and modern houses, surrounded by the rolling farmland which typifies the Overberg
Overberg
Overberg is a district in South Africa to the east of Cape Town beyond the Hottentots-Holland mountains. It lies along the Cape Province's south coast between the Cape Peninsula and the region known as the Garden Route in the east...
region of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, give the village a delightful rural atmosphere.
The popularity of Napier has increased dramatically during the past few years. Napier is now rated by the Tourism Board as the fourth most attractive village of the Western Cape after Montagu, Greyton and McGregor, all of which are within an easy drive of Napier itself.
This picturesque village is revitalising itself with folk lovingly restoring old homesteads and properties – rekindling the charm and beauty of the original architecture. The town buzzes with activity, yet without the frenetic ‘rushing’ often experienced in large towns.
Napier was founded in 1838 when through a dispute between two neighbours, Michiel van Breda & Pieter Voltelyn van der Byl, over the location of the community church.
Michiel van Breda wanted the church sited on his farm, Langefontein, while Pieter Voltelyn van der Byl wanted it built on his property, Klipdrift. Neither van Breda nor van der Byl would give way, so churches were built in both places, the town of Bredasdorp growing around van Breda’s church and the town of Napier founded around van der Byl’s church, and being named after Sir George Thomas Napier
George Thomas Napier
Lieutenant-General Sir George Thomas Napier KCB entered the British army in 1800, and served with distinction under Sir John Moore and the Duke Wellington in the Peninsula--and lost his right arm at the storming of Ciudad Rodrigo, where, as a Major in the 52nd Foot, he led the Light Division's...
, the British governor of the Cape Province at that time.
The Feeshuis, one of the oldest buildings in the town, was used as slave quarters during 1810–1820, and and then later as a wine cellar, was restored in 1988 to celebrate the town's 150th anniversary. The Dutch Reformed church was built in the form of a Greek cross with teak interior, unique with a beautiful pipe organ made of solid yellow copper. A toy museum and a watermill, a giant sundial at the municipal offices, and an ox Wagon monument (Kakebeenwa) to commemorate the Ossewa Trek of 1838 are some of the attractions you may want to view. The ox wagon monument has an impression of a wagon wheel track made in concrete to commemorate the well-known exodus of the dissident Afrikaners from the Western Cape
Along the main road you will find many restaurants, galleries and a host of interesting collector’s shops. Other activities include horse riding, hiking (Grootberg trail) and tractor rides, and rare species of fynbos as well as flocks of the South African national bird, the blue crane, can be seen in the area
The sundial was erected by Danie du Toit in 1965, who had no training in this field but gained his knowledge through meticulous observation. Time can be read from it, accurate to within 30 seconds.
In the distant past, Napier's main craftsmen were historically blacksmiths, a heritage which is commemorated by the annual Horse and Cart Festival. Other popular annual events are the Patatfees (Sweet Potato Festival), every June, and the Voet van Africa (Foot of Africa) Marathon which is run in mid-September.
With its narrow streets and quaint architecture, Napier is a town full of charm, and the beauty of the surrounding countryside is certain to enrich all and, impact to wish to return to enjoy the ambience of Napier again.
Napier is ideally situated in the Cape Agulhas
Cape Agulhas
Cape Agulhas is a rocky headland in the Western Cape, South Africa. It is the geographic southern tip of Africa and the official dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
Region with easy access to the seaside villages of Arniston
Arniston, Western Cape
Arniston is a small seaside settlement in the Overberg region on the Cape South coast, close to Cape Agulhas, the southern-most tip of Africa. Prior to the loss of the Arniston, it was known as Waenhuiskrans, an Afrikaans name meaning literally "Wagon house cliff", after a local sea cave large...
/Waenhuiskrans, Struisbaai and L´Agulhas, which are just 30 minutes drive southward. If you want a quiet retreat amongst fynbos
Fynbos
Fynbos is the natural shrubland or heathland vegetation occurring in a small belt of the Western Cape of South Africa, mainly in winter rainfall coastal and mountainous areas with a Mediterranean climate...
, barley and wheat fields, then look no further. You can ideally use Napier as a base to explore the Overberg or just relax.
This picturesque village is revitalising itself with folk lovingly restoring old homesteads and properties – rekindling the charm and beauty of the original architecture. The town buzzes with activity, yet without the frenetic ‘rushing’ often experienced in large towns.
Choose to break your journey at one of the excellent restaurants or eateries. From fine dining to wholesome homely fare, there will be something to suit all tastes among the friendly and welcoming choices you will find dotting the main thoroughfare.
Browse through quaint and interesting shops, ponder on the excellent artwork displayed in local galleries, taste the wines of the region and the new local vineyards, meet the locals as you browse and wander in this intriguing ‘hub’ of the Overberg.
Explore the town away from the main road – artist’s studios, cheese makers, home made preserves, an ice cream factory, a brewery, a wine maker, experts in the beautiful ‘fynbos,’ walking trails, horticulturalists, herb gardens and much more.
Napier is the perfect place to stay if you wanted a ‘base’ from which to explore the region – it has all the amenities and hospitality needed to serve as the launching pad to your travels around the region.