Located just 80 minutes from Cape Town, Villiersdorp lies at the heart of the Overberg region. Situated between the Waterval and Baviaans mountains, this pretty town is lined with oak trees and surrounded by fruit and wine farms.
Known as the “Pearl of the Overberg”, it is closest to the Theewaterskloof Dam. This means Villiersdorp is perfectly positioned as a convenient base for water sport enthusiasts and nature lovers. But that’s not all: Outdoor adventure sports, art, great wines and tasty farm-style food – all against the backdrop of breathtaking views – make this a perfect getaway.
Now for a bit of history: Villiersdorp was founded in 1843 when Pieter de Villiers, a farmer and veldkornet (military, administrative and judicial officer in South Africa in the 19th century) was granted permission by the Governor of the Cape to lay out a town on a section of his farm, Radyn.
Anna, his daughter, caused a scandal when she married one of her father’s farm labourers, Petrus Novebertus Graaff. A condition of the marriage was that the name De Villiers would continue. The marriage produced two sons who were to become cabinet ministers and a third, David, who became a senator.
Sir David de Villiers Graaf (knighted in 19011) became Mayor of Cape Town, a member of Parliament, and later Minister of Public Works, Posts & Telegraphs in the government of Louis Botha. A major benefactor in Villiersdorp, he donated money for the De Villiers Graaf Institute that opened in 1907.