TRAVELBUCKET

TRAVELBUCKET

Tag Archive: Groot Karoo

PRINCE ALBERT: A GEM BETWEEN HARD ROCKS

by Inge Triegaardt The Great Karoo with its vast openness and many tumbleweeds, offers beautiful gems in between the hard rocks and dry veld.  Prince Albert is certainly one of these diamonds in the making.  Prince Albert was established in 1842 with town layout on the De Queekvaleij farm.  The farm was granted to Zacharias de Beer as a loan farm and the town was initially called Albertsbrug. It was renamed in 1845 to its current name of prince Albert, after the husband of Queen Victoria. Spending a weekend in the town at the foot of the Heritage Site, which is the Swartberg Mountains, recharges the soul.  The many accommodation options, such as Skrywerskop, offer a country feel stay and the opportunity to stroll through the town from wherever you lay your head down at night.  Nothing is too far from the main road in this little town.  Referring to… Read more >

GROOTKERK, GRAAFF REINET

Entering from the South you drive up the long main road of Graaf Reinet.  After greeting some friendly locals on your way you will find this historic church at the top end of …  well, Church Street!  The church is probably the most recognizable and photographed landmark in Graaff Reinet. The church which claims to be the third oldest congregation in the Eastern Cape was designed by James Bisset.  He (Bisset)  incorporated some features from the Salisbury Cathedral in England into this majestic design.  The stone for the church was obtained locally and the church, which can seat 1,250, has a steeple of 45, 72 metres.  It also boasts a chimney – rather an unusual feature for a church I would think! On the church list are some famous dominees (preachers).  Andrew Murray as well as Dr D F Malan, who later became Prime Minister of South Africa, were some… Read more >

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