From bustling rural village life to wide open spaces, nature and wildlife to culture, breathtaking scenery to sun-soaked coasts Bergrivier has it all.
The area is renowned for its varied landscape and unique biodiversity, great natural beauty as well as the many wonderful places to visit and things to see and do – all of which have made the Bergrivier area, and the towns within it, a favoured destination for travellers looking for adventure.
The towns within the Bergrivier region have rich and fascinating histories, and culture buffs are in for a treat when exploring places such as Piketberg and Porterville – just a mere 60 to 90 km drive from Malmesbury.
Below are some unique cultural adventures in these towns that you can explore as day trips or longer:
Piketberg
Piketberg lies at the foot of the Piketberg Mountain range, surrounded by fields of wheat, vineyards, fruit farms and beautiful indigenous fynbos.
Military outposts placed by the Cape Government in 1655 gave the mountain range its name (piket means outpost in Dutch) and the town was later named after it. The town was established in 1836 when the farm Grootfontein was donated to the area’s church council by the then Governor of the Cape Colony.
The old town of Piketberg, now boasting myriad beautifully restored cottages, was established around the church – an imposing neo-gothic style cathedral with beautiful window patterns, plastered panels and interesting towers. The church, built in 1881, still stands and is an icon of the town.
A must-do activity is the unique and fascinating self-guided tour called the Piketberg Historical Route, which takes visitors on a journey back in time to experience the rich history and historic buildings of this beautiful village.
The route takes visitors to the many historical buildings dotted throughout the town and is a wonderful outing for young and old.
Included on the historic route is the Piketberg Museum, which houses an award winning display of historic items from a bygone era, highlighting the lifestyles of the early inhabitants of the town. The Piketberg Historical Route stops in at a variety of other locations, including the historic cemetery, the original police station, the bioscope and more.
Another great activity in Piketberg for culture buffs includes Last Friday – a food and art festival that takes place across the village on the last Friday of every month. Visitors can expect a celebration of arts, culture, live music and delicious artisanal foods and drinks. There is also rock art to be seen in the mountains above Piketberg, and the Moravian Mission Station at nearby Wittewater is a fascinating excursion.
Porterville
The known history of Porterville began in 1820 when British settlers arrived in the Western Cape. One such settler, Frederick John Owen, subdivided his farm, called Pomona, into parcels, which would later become the blueprint for present-day Porterville. The town was subsequently named after the Attorney General of the Cape Colony William Porter.
The town is now a mecca for artists and art lovers and hosts an annual, increasingly-popular, art festival weekend in October called Proudly Porterville, which allows visitors the chance to visit the many local artists in their studios to view and purchase a myriad of art works.
Galleries spring up across the town and the local businesses pull out all the stops to warmly welcome visitors.
Because of the popularity of this event, which sees accommodation fully booked well in advance, Porterville has launched a brand-new off-shoot event, which took place over the weekend of 7 to 9 July called Proudly Porterville Art: Winter Series, which saw a collaboration of Porterville artisans hosting fun workshops open to the public.
Visitors could choose from over 25 workshops over three days hosted by local creatives and supported by selected visiting artists. Renowned chef and restaurateur Jenny Morris offered a live cooking show, select local artists opened their studios, there was a Bergrivier Gin Experience – a chance to experience and savour locally produced gins paired with cheese, tapas and nougat. Over the weekend there were kiddies activities galore, including daily kids art workshops.
Porterville also offers a fascinating glimpse back in time to early days in the village and surrounds at the Jan Dankaert Museum. “As can be seen there is so much to see, do and experience in the Bergrivier region that visitors who enjoy their history, arts and cultural pursuits are promised a memorable and enjoyable adventure,” says Nomonde Ndlangisa, CEO of Bergrivier Tourism.
For more information on where to find cultural adventures, as well as other things to see and do, visit https://bergriviertourism.co.za/bergrivier/
