Less than a generation ago Franschhoek was still a sleepy agricultural backwater – albeit a very pretty one. By the 1980s retirees and artists discovered its charm and by the time the tercentennial of the arrival of the French Huguenots was celebrated in 1988 Franschhoek was beginning to make its mark on the tourism map. By the time South Africa celebrated political liberation tourism was firmly established as one of the key economic drivers for the valley – in addition to agriculture.

This section of our website provides an introduction to the history of our village and valley.  Please read on.