Mont d'Or Blog - Mont d’Or Franschhoek

Franschhoek Wine Tram

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0200

THE EXPERIENCE:

Franschhoek Wine Tram currently offers eight hop-on hop-off lines to choose from each visiting a selection of wine estates showcasing a separate part of the Franschhoek Valley.

Passengers board the tour at the Franschhoek Terminal located on the corner of Main Road and Cabriere Street and are transported by a combination of tram and tram-bus around a loop of stops allowing passengers to hop-on hop-off at any of the stops.

Each of the lines has a wide selection of wine estates to visit from boutique to marquee estates and each offers a unique perspective on the Franschhoek wine experience.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Passengers will be transported by tram and open-air tram-bus around a loop of stops with a selection of wine estates.
In addition to the wine tasting activities offered at each stop, several of the wine estates on the tour boast world-class restaurants serving lunches and picnics.
The tram or tram-bus passes each stop according to the timetable allowing passengers to hop-on hop-off at their convenience.
Wine purchased while on the tour can be handed over to the host for later collection at the end of the tour

BOOKING:

Price: Adult R260 / Child (3-17) R90
Wine tasting fees at each estate (between R25 and R150 per person) are not included in the tour price
The tour starts and ends at the Franschhoek Terminal located on the corner of Main Road and Cabriere Street.

In order to avoid disappointment we advise passengers to make lunch reservations at least 24 hours in advance of travel. Click here for a complete list of tour restaurants. An optional transfer from Cape Town can be added during the booking process (additional fees apply)

Articles from: www.babylonstoren.com | www.winetram.co.za

Woordfees

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0200

Download the programme HERE

The Toyota US Woorfees is a flagship arts festival attracting artists and visitors from across the globe. There are more than 1,000 items on this year’s programme – we dig up some of the biggest Woordfees highlights to look out for.

The festival runs from 6 – 15 March 2020 and is divided into writers’, music, theatre, film, discourse, visual arts, agriculture and lifestyle sections. With so many Woordfees highlights to choose from, the organisers have people like Deon Meyer, Veronique Jephtas and Fiona van Kerwel to list their picks – but this still only scratches the surface. Herewith our suggestions of some of the other gems of this years Woordfees.

Stellenbosch Visio events at Woordfees

Stellenbosch Visio will present a series of lifestyle events at the 2020 edition of the Woordfees. Herewith a list of our selection of events.

Kerneels, Topkos and Cabernet

Presented by Stellenbosch Visio in collaboration with the restaurant De Warenmarkt and the Stellenbosch Cabernet Collective is sure to be one of the biggest Woordfees highlights. De Warenmarkt’s star chef Norman Human conjures Italian-inspired dishes from Dog’s Mind, the latest novel by Kerneels Breytenbach, Visio’s restaurant writer. The food will be served with local select wines from the Stellenbosch Cabernet Collective. Only 50 seats available, bookings essential.

Date: 10 March 2020, 19:00-21:30
Tickets: R750 each
Venue: De Warenmarkt, 20 Ryneveldstraat

Blomsalon

Get the latest fashion news and practice your floral art in this presentation by Stellenbosch Visio, fashion guru Jackie Burger and flower artist Alwijn Burger. Jackie visits Blomboy in his studio to celebrate the age-old love affair between flowers and beauty. The morning kicks off with “Style sentiment”, in which Jackie talks about fashion. Afterwards, guests can enjoy “Bubbles with blossoms”, or a glass of sparkling wine with flower infusions.

The afternoon concludes with a workshop and demonstration by Blomboy. Here, guests can get creative with flowers and play, create and socialize.

Date: 11 & 13 March 2020 at 11:00-15:00
Tickets: R1 980 each
Venue: Blomboy Studio, 19 Herte Street, Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch Triennale 2020 – Guided Tour

Presented by Stellenbosch Visio, Toyota US Woordfees Festival-goers can take one of two guided tours of Triennale exhibition, presented by Dr. Mike Mavura (Stellenbosch Academy of Design and Photography) and Francé Beyers (editor of Stellenbosch Visio).

Guests meet at the Woodmill Lifestyle Center, Vredenburg Road, Devon Valley. The Wordfees shuttle service will transport guests and return them to their car.

Date: 9 and 10 March 2020 at 10:00-13:00
Tickets: R300 each
Venue: The Woodmill Lifestyle Centre, Vredenburgweg, Devonvallei. Die Woordfees shuttle service will return guests to their vehicles afterwards.

Snoekbraai at Kanonkop

A cosy affair hosted by Stellenbosch Visio and Kanonkop. A wine tasting on the famous wine farm led by winemaker Abrie Beeslaar is already a festive affair. Add to that the company of RSG’s Martelize Brink and the Kanonkop brothers Johann and Paul Krige, plus their legendary spit-braai… and to top it off, throw in the launch of Emile Joubert’s great book Kanonkop: The Making of a Legend, published by Tip Africa Publishing and you have a recipe for a kuier like no other.

Date: 11 March, 10:30-13:30
Tickets: R480 each
Number of tickets available: 50
Place: Kanonkop Wine Estate, R44
Kanonkop: The Making of a Legend is available for R495 (Incl VAT) on the farm during the Woordfees.

Woordfees 2020 debut highlights

Dominique Botha’s Vals River debuts as a drama with Anna-Mart van der Merwe, Tinarie van Wyk Loots and Stian Bam. It will be brought to life by Theatrerocket, which has delivered successful pieces such as The Smell of Apples and Camphor to the stage. It can be described as an elegy of a sister to her lost brother. It plays out against the backdrop of a divided South Africa.

Helena Gunter’s short story collection Tweespoor has been adapted into a two-woman piece, with actresses Nicole Holm and Inge Crafford Lazarus. Tilla and Fransina are trying to make sense of their life in South Africa today, until one becomes the victim of crime. Superintendents Marinda Engelbrecht and Herman Lessing take the plunge in a different production, Crimplene Cuisine, where they take part in a food competition, but they also make time to discuss other things in between the cooking.

Hits from other festivals

This year’s winner of the Zabalaza Festival, The 9th Month; Camp Whore with Sandra Prinsloo and Amy Jephta’s All Who Pass are among the top productions of other festivals to be seen. Also featured are Hani: The Legacy about the life of Chris Hani; The things of a child with Cintaine Schutte; Chris Vorster’s The Heart Lost, which excelled at the Free State Arts Festival; Retief Scholtz’s The Benefits of Egg White; Dana Snyman’s Donkey and Jeremeo le Cordeur’s “Dude, who’s my pickup truck?”.

Pieter-Dirk Uys celebrates his 75th birthday in September 2020. To celebrate this milestone, these productions are on the menu: Pieter-Dirk Uys: The three Poggenpoels, Evita: Fake or fop (with Evita Bezuidenhout, Never too Naked (with Bambi Kellerman) and Grandma Ossewania talks dirty.

With more than 1000 items on the bill for Woordfees 2020, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
– Online: www.woordfees.co.za
– PDF version of programme: http://bit.ly/2rZqCcl

The Stellenbosch Triennale will also be a highlight in early 2020, so the town will be squarely in the spotlight of the global arts fraternity, with visitors from across the world flocking to the historical town.

Other Woordfees highlights

Theatre

All Who Pass by Amy Jephta, in which a woman returns to District Six and is overwhelmed by memories of the last night in the home from which her family was forced
Valsrivier, an adaptation by Saartjie Botha of Dominique Botha’s award-winning novel
Die sonkamer by André Gerber with, among others, Antoinette Kellermann and Lida Botha – An intimate look at the elderly in a retirement village.

Dance

For the first time this year, the Woordfees has a full category for contemporary dance, thanks in part to the increase in the number of dance companies in the Cape Metropolis.

Baqamile, created by artist Buhlebezwe Siwani, combines several South African transit rites and uses video, singing, music, soundscapes and dance to create a sensually overwhelming experience.
Krummelpap, afval en sunlightseepbaddens is a compassionate dance narrative interwoven with Ronelda Kamfer’s poetry and iconic South African music by, among others, Abdullah Ibrahim and the Soweto String Quartet.

Agriculture
This is another new section consisting of a variety of demonstrations, courses, discourse talks and other presentations.

Writers Festival
Along with the cream of Afrikaans literature, festival-goers will also be able to listen to a host of international writers.

Christy Lefteri (The Beekeeper of Aleppo) from London
Damian Barr (You Will Be Safe Here) from Scotland
Suketu Mehta (Maximum City – Bombay Lost and Found) from New York
Esther Verhoef (Lieve mama) from Amsterdam
Lize Spit (Het smelt) from Belgium
Jodi Picoult (Plain Truth). This American star writer will join the discussion via Skype.

Contemporary sounds

Karoo-Suite 2: Karoonagte, Deon Meyer and Coenie de Villiers’ follow up to Karoo Suite
Nataniël: Hoekom hulle swing
Karen Zoid 20 jaar pops, Karen Zoid and the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra

For more information visit the Woordfees website: www.woordfees.co.za

Article can be found at Stellenbosch Visio

Luxury & tranquil accommodation at Mont d’Or Franschhoek

Mon, 16 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0200

Accommodation at Mont d’Or Franschhoek

There are three different types of rooms to choose from at Mont d’Or Franschhoek, each one uniquely decorated with a variation of layout and character. Choose between the Loft Rooms, Classic Double Rooms or the Honeymoon & Family Suite.

All rooms come with an en-suite bathroom, air-conditioning, TV with DStv, a mini-fridge, and tea and coffee-making facilities.

The Loft Rooms are the warmest rooms in the guesthouse, making it a great place to stay during the winter. One of the rooms has two single beds while the other comes with a King-sized bed giving travellers and families more flexibility to their stay.

There are five Double Rooms on the ground floor of the main guesthouse and three more in the garden cottage. The rooms have King-sized beds, spacious bathrooms with spacious showers; two of which also come with a bathtub.

Couples looking for a romantic escape or families in need of a relaxing break can enjoy the Honeymoon & Family Suite. The suite is spacious with a high ceiling and comes with a King-sized bed on the ground floor and two single beds on the mezzanine, a spacious bathroom with a shower and bathtub big enough for two. The honeymoon suite opens directly onto the beautiful gardens and pool area of Mont d’Or Franschhoek.

Facilities & breakfast at Mont d’Or Franschhoek

The general manager, Hanli, originally from a farm in the area, is a wonderful host and has a hands-on approach; ensuring guests’ needs are always fulfilled.

A fresh and healthy breakfast can be enjoyed every morning at Mont d’Or Franschhoek. The breakfast spread is freshly baked in house and guests will be spoiled by Hanli’s homemade bread, pastries, rusks, jams and preserves.

After enjoying Hanli’s treats, you will have all the energy you need to explore the beautiful village of Franschhoek and what it has to offer.

As the culinary capital of the country, you can enjoy a delicious lunch and dinner anywhere in town.

Free and secure parking is available on the premises for your peace of mind and you can access the free Wi-Fi of the guesthouse from anywhere on the premises. The large swimming pool provides the perfect place for you to cool down during the hot summer days.

Mont d’Or has its own Spa onsite that provides all kinds of massage and beauty treatments. Their highly trained staff specialise in therapeutic massage styles that help relieve stress and make your stay all the more relaxing.

Top reasons for staying at Mont d’Or Franschhoek:

The guesthouse is set in the heart of Franschhoek.
The rooms are spacious and beautifully decorated.
The guesthouse has its own onsite spa where you can enjoy a relaxing spa treatment.
The owners and staff are friendly and helpful.
You can enjoy a delicious healthy breakfast every morning.

To find out more about Mont d’Or Franschhoek, give them a call on 021 876 2293, or email reservations@montdorfhk.co.za. Visit their website at www.montdorfhk.co.za. Find them on Google Maps.

Franschhoek day activities for food and wine connoisseurs, families, and adventurers

Fri, 06 Apr 2018 00:00:00 +0200

For the foodies and wine connoisseurs: The Franschhoek Wine Tram

If you’re a foodie or a wine connoisseur, then you’ll know that Franschhoek is in a class of it’s own when it comes to wine estates and restaurants. The problem is usually that drinking and driving is illegal and dangerous. Luckily there is the Franschhoek Wine Tram.

The Franschhoek Wine Tram is an upmarket tram that runs between Franschhoek town center and the surrounding wine farms. The pick-up point is an easy, 2 minute walk from Mont d'Or Franschhoek and from there you can just sit back, relax and enjoy your wine tasting worry-free. There are different routes to choose from, so it all depends on your preferences and the time you have available. It’s definitely worth making a day out of it, and for that we’d recommend choosing one of the longer routes. Some of them go as far as the Paarl-Franschhoek Valley and there lies even more treats.

For the families: Pearl Valley and Val de Vie Estate

Another gem in the Paarl-Franschhoek Valley is Val de Vie Estate. This picturesque estate nestled in the mountains offers something for everyone, and once you’re in it’s very easy to get carried away and end up spending your entire day here.

Come join in on the family fun between 10:00 and 15:00 every last Saturday of the month, when Val de Vie opens it's doors for a fantastic market day. Enjoy delicious food, wine and lots of entertainment for the whole family. And it doesn't end with market days. On any other day, take the family to the clubhouse for a delicious meal and a swim in the pool. The kids can entertain themselves in the play area or on the sports fields while mom and dad relax at the spa or play a round of golf at the acclaimed Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. With seemingly endless sources of entertainment, this estate really is a treasure trove in the Winelands, and with only a 20 minute scenic drive between Mont d'Or Franschhoek and Val de Vie, it'll be difficult to find a reason not to go.

For the adventurers at heart: Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve

A mere 7km from Mont d'Or Franschhoek lies the stunning Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve. This mountain reserve is part of the UNESCO declared Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve and it is a playground for all kinds of adventurers! The well-maintained routes offer some challenging climbs for trail runners and panoramic views for anyone who's just in for a casual stroll.

Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve is a great place to spend a day, whether you’re running, hiking or just having a picnic in the mountains. The views alone make it worth the trip. On clear days you can see Table Mountain in the distance and on some days in July, you’ll be walking these trails ankle-deep in snow. Whatever the weather, Mont Rochelle is your destination for adventure.

Permits are R40 per person, children under 16 accompanying a paying adult enter for free and maps are available through the Franschhoek Tourism Office and Huguenot Museum.

So, whether you’re a foodie, a family or a mountain fanatic, you’ll find that there are plenty of day activities in and around Franschhoek to keep you busy. And if you’d rather stay in and enjoy the mountains, wine and food from the comfort of your luxurious room at Mont d'Or Franschhoek, we’ll make sure you feel right at home. Have a look at our different rooms and be sure to check out our specials to see how you can save on accommodation in Franschhoek.

What ‘Bed and Breakfast’ means to us

Mon, 16 Oct 2017 00:00:00 +0200

Our general manager, Hanli has always had a passion for making hearty food. She lives out that passion every day at Mont d’Or. Hanli has a knack for sourcing only the finest and freshest local ingredients – something she learned while living on a farm for many years. She then thinks of creative ways to combine them to make something absolutely delectable.

All of the piping hot quiches, soft and crispy croissants and wholesome muffins that you will find at the breakfast table are thoughtfully made by Hanli. The trained kitchen staff assist Hanli in making everything from scones and rusks to sweet and tangy citrus marmalade – all for the pleasure of our guests.

So, what’s on the table?

At breakfast time, you will be met with a heavenly buffet of smoked salmon, yoghurt and muesli, fresh fruit and fruit juice, baked goods like quiches, muffins, scones and croissants and an assortment of the finest local cheeses. If you are already imagining the delicious combinations that you will make, hold on… there’s more to come.

For the main event, Hanli and her team will prepare a mouthwatering hot breakfast of your choice. This means you can have eggs any way you want them, yummy bacon, sausages, mushrooms or any other fresh ingredients Hanli would’ve been able to source. For anything else, just ask.

We pride ourselves in the personal attention we give our guests. So, if there is anything that you would prefer for breakfast, please just ask Hanli in advance and she will do her best to make it for you. Also, feel free to ask her any food-related questions. Her knowledge of traditional South African cuisine is commendable and she will gladly share some recipes – and even bake some traditional rusks for you to take home.

A little something extra

When it comes to creating a welcome, homely environment we like to add that little something extra to make it special. Expect traditional, freshly baked rusks as part of your coffee and tea making facilities in your room. Enjoy every cup with a crunchy piece of homemade goodness as a gift from us, made with care by Hanli.

Hanli’s passion doesn’t stop there. She also uses her years of experience, to make other delicious goodies that can be bought to take home. Depending on the season and what is available fresh, Hanli’s creations can be anything from her famous sweet (and healthy) date balls to all kinds of mouthwatering marmalades. Have a look at the basket in the lounge area to see what Hanli has been busy with in the kitchen.

Not staying with us? No problem!

If you’re not staying with us but you’d still like to come and experience our delicious breakfast and the homemade goodies that come with it – just give us a shout. We’ll always try to accommodate you. We know that there’s nothing like a good wholesome breakfast to get you ready for the day – especially if the day has some wine tasting in store!

Get in touch now to book your spot for breakfast. Give us a call at +27 21 876 2293 or click here for email. Alternatively, just drop by. We are in the centre of town, so it's easy to pop in. Also, have a look at some of our amazing accommodation specials in the special offers tab to find out what the full experience of ‘Bed and Breakfast’ means to us.