Villiersdorp

Province

The city is located in the town of Villiersdorp Theewaterskloof, district Overberg, Western Cape Province in South Africa at an altitude of 466 meters above the sea level. 2011, the city had 10,004 inhabitants. Franschhoek is 32 km, 63 km Worcester and Cape Town, 96 km away.

History

The city was founded in 1843 by Pieter De Villiers, on whose farm the first buildings were erected. Due to the poor road and rail links, the city developed slowly in the first few decades. It was electrified in 1928 by the construction of a hydroelectric power plant.

The De Villiers family has an important role in the history of the community to this day. Sir David Pieter de Villiers Graaff, was in 1891 mayor of Cape Town. He founded in 1907 the De Villiers Graaff High School with the donation of the land and a donation of 50,000 pounds. His son in 1957 opposition leader in parliament. Main source of income of the city, the surrounding orchards and a small extent of viticulture. The city is part of the Worcester Wine Route. The Villiersdorp Wine Cellar was founded in 1922 and is the oldest in the Overberg region.

Attractions

The Theewaterskloof Reservoir is approximately 52 square kilometers, the seventh largest lake of South Africa. It was opened on 24 April 1982.

The nature reserve Villiersdorp Wild Flower Garden and Nature Reserve covers 530 hectares of fynbos. There are a large number of silver tree crops, including Leucospermum, and Erica species; also 60 Protea species there are previously known. 130 plant species are endemic. About 70 species of birds can be observed including Kaphonigfresser, sunbirds, Schnäpperwürger, Bokmakiri, white-eyes, Kapfrankolin, guinea fowl and flycatchers.