Mont Rochelle
Mont Rochelle is a boutique hotel and winery set on a hill above the historic village of Franschhoek, with sweeping views of the surrounding vineyards and mountains.
The valley was settled in 1688 by the French Huguenots who fled to the Cape, escaping religious persecution in France. The Huguenots were given land by the Dutch government in a valley called Oliphant’s Hoek (Elephants Corner), so named because of the vast herds of elephants that roamed the area. The name soon changed to Franschhoek (French Corner), with many of the settlers naming the new farms after the areas in France from which they came for example La Motte, La Cotte, Provence, Dieu Donne and Mont Rochelle. Most of the farms have retained their original farmhouses and the Cape Dutch architecture in much of the village remains unspoilt.
Amongst Franschhoeks many old vineyards are some excellent newly established ones which produce some of the best wines in South Africa, many having achieved international acclaim. Franschhoeks French heritage is evident in its food and wine tradition and is known as the food capital of South Africa. With its award winning restaurants (La Quartier Francaise has been rated in the top 50 worldwide) visitors are guaranteed an exceptional gourmet experience.
The quaint and picturesque village of Franschhoek emits proud and ever present memories of 17th century Huguenot culture, a place, to which an emancipated Nelson Mandela turned, as he began his long walk to freedom.
Mont Rochelle is an ideal base from which to explore the surrounding vineyards and the cosmopolitan city of Cape Town is less than an hour away. Guests are invited to relax in gracious and tranquil surroundings. The exclusive bedrooms and suites are elegantly decorated, with a blend of natural soft tones and traditional Cape charm which achieves the ideal meeting point between formality and ease whilst retaining an air of appropriate poise.
In the Vineyard Wing each of the luxury bedrooms has its own private garden. There are also two deluxe suites with private plunge pools. Most of the rooms and suites have mountain views. Other facilities include a fine dining restaurant as well as a second restaurant offering alfresco meals, a wellness spa, sauna, swimming pool, gymnasium and equestrian centre.
Visitors may wish to follow one of the trails through the vines for an invigorating country walk or a gentle stroll. Other activities include wine tasting tours on horseback, swimming in rock pools above the mountain pass, mountain biking, 4x4 trailing in the mountains, trout fishing and golf at Pearl Valley, a challenging Jack Nicklaus signature course. For the free spirited, paragliding offers a birds eye view of the picturesque valleys and for those who prefer some retail therapy to while away the hours, the main road in the village is lined with galleries displaying local arts and crafts and antique shops.
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