Graaff-Reinet (Oct 2008)

In October 2008 we went to Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape of South Africa for my cousins wedding.  We left George early on the Saturday morning and drove the 3 hours to Graaff-Reinet.  We first went to the Acacia Guesthouse where we had rooms for the night. 

The guesthouse was very nice. There were 4 rooms.  The two rooms in front had twin beds, a small bathroom with a shower and coffee making facilities.  The two rooms in the back are bigger with a small kitchen, bathroom and a double bed.  After unpacking we went to explore.  The guesthouse is close to town and we walked to the main road.

Graaff-Reinet was established in 1786 and is the fourth oldest town in South Africa.  It was named after the governor of the Cape Colony, Cornelis Jacob van de Graaff and his wife whose maiden name was “Reynet”.

We walked pass the Dutch Reformed Church where the wedding was taking place later.

Grootkerk, NG Kerk, Graaff-Reinet
Grootkerk, NG Kerk, Graaff-Reinet


















There are 5 museums in the town but we only had time to visit two of them.  (We visited the other three museums in 2012.  Read about them here)

First we went to the Old Library Museum. The library was established in 1847 when a part of the building was completed.  In 1981 the library moved and the building was turned into a museum. The building was declared a National Heritage Site in 1987. The museum had exhibits old furniture, accounting records and fossils. 
Ou Biblioteek Museum

Ou Biblioteek Museum
Ou Biblioteek Museum













Next we walked to Reinet House in Parsonage Street.  This house was built in 1812 as a parsonage for the Dutch Reformed Church.  It was used as parsonage, boarding house for girls and later for College students.  From 1944 it was empty and was neglected.  It was restored from 1952 and was opened as a museum in 1956.
The displays in this beautiful house includes period furniture, a doll collection, a Mill house and the oldest grape vine in South Africa (Planted in 1870)

 





















We enjoyed all the museums in Graaff-Reinet.  You can buy a combined ticket for all five museums and save a bit of money.  The museums is not far apart and you can walk to all of them.  Start at the Old Library Museum and then walk to the Old Residendy, Reinet House, Military Museum and Urquhart House.

Graaff-Reinet Museums
(Reinet House, The Old Library, Urquhart House, The Old Residency and The Military History Museum)
Website:                       www.graaffreinetmuseums.co.za
Phone no:                     +27 49 892 3801
Fax no:                         +27 49 892 5650
Visiting Hours:               Monday – Thursday:      08:00-13:00 & 13:45–16:30
                                    Friday:                          08:00-13:00 & 13:45–16:00
                                    Saturday:                     Open 2 Saturdays a month

(Not a sponsored post)

Comments

  1. Firefly the Travel Guy10 June, 2013 10:47

    Graaff-Reinet is one of my favourite towns. I often wonder why more people from the PE area don't spent weekends away there. I would if I could

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lu-Gerda21 June, 2013 10:10

      It is also one of my favourite towns. But it is just to far from Mossel Bay for weekend visits.

      Delete
  2. Margaret11 June, 2013 14:53

    ...another place to put on my list of places to visit!
    I love the detail in the Dutch Reformed Church.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lu-Gerda21 June, 2013 10:11

      I never get tired of seeing this church. We visited a lot of smaller towns in South Africa and many of them have amazing churches.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous27 August, 2013 09:43

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