Montagu, Western Cape

Province

Montagu is a town in the municipality Langenberg district of Cape Winelands, Western Cape Province in South Africa. It lies in a fertile valley at the confluence of the rivers Kingna River and Keisie on Route 62 The city lies 210 meters above sea level and has 15,176 inhabitants ( 2011).

History

The city was as Agter Cogman 's Kloof ( German: "Behind Cogmans Pass" ) founded in 1851 and was later named after John Montagu, the Colonial Secretary of the Cape Colony. Initially, it was difficult to access. The oxen always required many hours to overcome the difficult Cogman 's Pass. It was only in 1877 built the engineer Thomas Bain a road and blew a small tunnel through the mountain, through the today still runs the traffic on the R62. During the Second Boer War the British built a fort there

Montagu is today a small town with many well-maintained Cape Dutch and Victorian buildings. Many artists and artisans have selected as Montagu home and contribute to the special atmosphere of the place at.

Attractions

Biggest attraction of Montagu is the Spa, three kilometers from the town center. The springs were originally discovered by one of the pervading Voortrekkers, who in the 45 degrees Celsius his injured hand, bathed iodinated water and was able to pull healed after a few days. On January 25, 1981, a flood destroyed by the Keisie the entire bath complex, which was subsequently rebuilt.

Nature reserves in the area:

• Cogman 's Kloof Mountain Reserve
• Montagu Mountain Reserve
• MontEco Nature Reserve

Located in the village is a large bird colony with cattle egrets, herons African, egrets, black-necked herons, ibises many saints, shags and Masked Weaver birds. Especially in October prevails in the colony with many nests bustle. An observation post was established in 2009 by the pond in front of the colony with good viewing opportunities from up close.