Heidelberg, Western Cape

Heidelberg, Western Cape
Heidelberg, Western Cape Location in the Western Cape
Heidelberg, Western Cape
Coordinates: 34°05′S 20°57′E
Country	South Africa
Province	Western Cape
District	Eden
Municipality	Hessequa
Area
• Total	4.93 km2 (1.90 sq mi)
Population (2001)
• Total	6,758
• Density	1,371/km2 (3,550/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2001)
• Black African	4.6%
• Coloured	76.5%
• Indian/Asian	0.1%
• White	18.8%
First languages (2001)
• Afrikaans	95.1%
• Xhosa	2.5%
• English	2.0%
• Other	0.4%
Time zone	SAST (UTC+2)
Postal code	6665
Area code(s)	028

Dutch Reformed Church in Heidelberg

Outlying Valley in Heidelberg. Western Cape

Fourie House / Doornboom Opstal. The oldest House in Heidelberg. Built in 1728

Heidelberg is a town in Western Cape, South Africa. It is located near South Africa's south coast, on the N2 highway, 274 km east of Cape Town (about half way between Cape Town and Knysna). Heidelberg is just east to the Overberg region, and some consider it the beginning of the Garden Route.

In 1716, Louis Fourie, who is recognised as the founding father of Heidelberg, obtained grazing rights from Governor Van der Stel and he settled alongside the Duivenhoks River.^{[citation needed]} This is where he later constructed the Doornboom Homestead - registered in 1728 - and the Doornboom Farm was established. Heidelberg is today what was once Doornboom Farm.

Heidelberg is part of the Hessequa Local Municipality.

The new Tourism Office is located in Fourie House on Fourie Street, the oldest house in Heidelberg.

External links

• The town's homepage