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A Little More Graaff-Reinet

Here’s just a handful more photos of Graaff-Reinet from the blog of Angelika Wohlrab, a South African tour guide, author, and photographer. Above is another Cape Dutch gem, the Urquhart House with its splendid plasterwork design in the gable.

This ancient-looking water wheel is in the Reinet House complex. For some reason it has an almost Bavarian feel to it.

Also at Reinet House is this rather significant vine. It was planted in 1870 and is still going strong.

And again — simple, dignified buildings. This is what South African government-built housing should be like: working families deserve affordable beauty.

Published at 7:20 am on Tuesday 29 March 2011. Categories: Architecture Errant Thoughts South Africa Tags: , , , .
Comments

Andrew ….

Thanks for sharing this and for providing the link to Angelika’s blog. The last photo above is from a row of old “slave” cottages and are now accommodation at the Drostdy. In fact the two shown were occupied by our last party there.

Perhaps Angelika could know about the building at Kerkstraat 14?

The ancient vine reminds of the one in the courtyard of the Cape Heritage Hotel on the Breestraat in Cape Town. The vine there was planted in 1781. It is not so robust-looking as the one shown in your photo here from Graaff-Reinet. The management of the Cape Heritage told me their vine still bears fruit. By the way, I would recommend the Cape Heritage to anyone visiting Cape Town. Here is their history page:

http://www.capeheritage.co.za/history.html

Groete …

— Dave Cooper 30 Mar 2011 9:15 am
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