Montagu on the Route 62, Western Cape

Route 62, also known as the "longest wine route in the world," begins in the picturesque town of Montagu, a short drive from Cape Town. The drive passes through the breathtakingly craggy Cogmanskloof and its tapestry of Cape Fold Mountains. Old Cape Dutch and Georgian-style houses, a backdrop of towering mountains, natural hot springs, and a preserved sense of heritage give Montagu its class and character.

The Western Cape's most famous food writer and columnist, Madeleine Roux, has made Montagu her permanent home and describes it as "a haven, the most beautiful town in the whole Western Cape." It's the safest place I've ever lived for people like me. We don't even have keys for a lot of our doors. Every night, we go to bed without having locked our cars." There are no security measures in place, such as gate locks or window bars." Montagu is a bustling city, but in a hip kind of way. Early in the year, adventure sports fans flock to Montagu for the Rock Rally and Mountain Mania. Each year, Little Karoo is celebrated with a book festival in July and a youth arts festival in August. The Montagu Rose Show takes place in the month of October, and the Family Heritage Festival is held in the month of September, both of which feature plenty of opportunities to buy goods made in the area. Indulge in a leisurely Saturday morning stroll through the Village Market on Bath Street before settling in for a leisurely afternoon of eating and shopping.

A stroll through Cogmans Kloof and a soak in the local hot springs are two of the most well-liked ways to enjoy the great outdoors in this area. Be mindful of the fact that you are currently in the heart of wine country. If you've ever had a glass of the local "Montagu Muscadel," you know why Route 62 is so irresistible.

Montagu, located in the western part of Kannaland between the Keisie and Kingna Rivers, is surrounded by the Langeberg mountain range and is known as the "mountain mecca" of the Cape because of its abundance of orchards, vineyards, local herbs, rock formations, and therapeutic hot mineral springs. Mountain biking, kloofing, abseiling, paragliding, fishing, and riverboat trips up the Breede River are just a few of the many adrenaline-pumping activities available in Montagu.

The radioactive hot springs on the outskirts of Montagu, which were once part of the farm known as "Uitvlucht," are the town's most popular tourist attraction. Lover's Walk, a picturesque pathway through the cliffs to the springs, was painstakingly rebuilt after the Kloof and the Baths complex were completely destroyed by a flood in 1981. The Nature Garden was established in 1954 and is at its most beautiful in the spring when the wildflowers are in bloom, providing a serene and rejuvenating alternative to the springs. Once inaccessible, Cogmans Kloof is now one of the main gateways to Montagu thanks to Thomas Bain's construction of a pass and tunnel through the Kloof, which allows passage through the Hole in the Rock and into the Klein Karoo. On Saturday mornings, the community comes together to sell their wares at the Saturday Morning Market. The exit for the restaurant "Die Stal" is taken as one leaves Montagu. The location known as "Die Stal" on Kruis Farm. Take the R318 eastward for 8 kilometers from Montagu. You can "maak 'n draai" at Suzanne Venters or Die Stal in Montagu if you're a fan of hearty, traditional, country fare.

While the breakfast and lunch menus at Die Stal on Kruis Farm are relatively brief, the restaurant's extensive and exciting specials menu makes up for it.

With the vines and bougainvillea overhead, it's the perfect place to while away the afternoon with a glass of wine as the summer sun slowly sets.

Information Courtesy of www.sahistory.org.za/place/montagu-route-62