Constantia, Cape Town

Province

Constantia is a southern suburb of the South African city of Cape Town. In 2001, he had 12,564 inhabitants. He is primarily known for its wineries and is regarded as exclusive residential area. Even the Polls More Prison is located here, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned after his 18 -year-long imprisonment on Robben Iceland 1982-1989. Constantia lies on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain and the Constantiaberg.

Constantia is a popular destination for tourists, especially the so-called Constantia Wine Route, where the famous wine estates Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia, Buitenverwachting, Constantia Uitsig and Steenberg can be visited.

Through the cool microclimate between Table Mountain and Hout Bay, combined with the intense African sun, thrive very special wines in the Constantia Valley. Wines from the Constantia Valley are filled into specially embossed bottles, because they are made only from grapes that have been grown exclusively in the valley.

From Constantia Nek ( the area between Table Mountain and the Constantiaberg ) from there is a hiking trail to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

History

The Governor Simon van der Stel in 1683 got a large property in the Constantia Valley on the back of Table Mountain for his services for the Dutch East India Company Vereenigde given. He had initially grow different crops to supply the ships to and from India with provisions. It was found that certain varieties grew best in the Constantia Valley because of the constant winds and the relatively cold winter, and so he specialized in viticulture. 1685 an oak avenue was created, but it turned out that the oaks due to the climatic conditions in the Cape grew too fast and are therefore unsuitable for the production of barrels and corks. The avenue is to this day. After the death of the governor, the farm was run down quickly, and Constantia was sold in 1716 and divided into the vineyards Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia, Buitenverwachting, Constantia Uitsig and Steenberg.

Groot Constantia

Simon van der Stel, the first Governor of the Dutch Cape Colony, decided on his 750 acre farm Groot Constantia to plant the first vines. The Constantia wine enjoyed in the 18th and 19th centuries, even the European aristocracy great popularity.

Groot Constantia is an example of the architectural style of the Kapholländer and a well-known architectural landmark in the area. The building, built in 1684 burned in 1925, although completely, but has been faithfully reconstructed. It now contains a museum with antique furniture, paintings, glassware and porcelain. A gable above a wine cellar is decorated with stucco reliefs of Anton Anreith of 1791.