Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch is the second oldest European settlement in South Africa after Cape Town, and is located in the Western Cape Province. It is situated about 50 kilometers from Cape Town and has a population of around 90,000 as of the year 2000, not counting students. This estimate is based on formally housed residents. As such it is almost certainly understated, as the Stellenbosch region also includes a number of informal settlements. The major one is in the township called Kayamandi. Stellenbosch is rapidly merging with other surrounding urban settlements. The town is also home to the University of Stellenbosch and is immediately adjacent to Technopark.
Stellenbosch is said to be the heart of Afrikanerdom.
History
The town was founded in 1679 by the Governor of the Cape Colony, Simon van der Stel, who named it after himself — Stellenbosch means "(van der) Stel's forest". It is situated on the banks of the Eerste River ("First River"), so named as it is the first river one reaches when travelling from Cape Town. The town grew so fast that it became an independent local authority in 1682 and the seat of a magistrate with jurisdiction over 25 000 square kilometres in 1685.
Soon after the first settlers arrived, especially the French Huguenots, grapes were planted in the fertile valleys around Stellenbosch and soon it became the centre of the South African wine industry. Until recently the wealthy wine growing nature of the area meant that it had a large Gini coefficient, although this is changing.
The first school had been opened in 1683 but education in the town began in earnest in 1859 with the opening of a seminary for the Dutch Reformed Church and a gymnasium which became Het Stellenbosch Gymnasium in 1866. In 1874 some higher classes became Victoria College and then in 1918 the University of Stellenbosch. In 1909 an old boy of the school, Paul Roos, captain of the first team to be called the Springboks, was invited to become the sixth rector of the school. He remained rector till 1940. On his retirement the school's name was changed to Paul Roos Gymnasium.
Wine
The Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek valleys form the Cape Winelands, the largest of the two main wine growing regions in South Africa. The South African wine industry produces about 1,000,000,000 litres of wine annually. Stellenbosch is the primary location for viticulture and viticulture research. The Stellenbosch wine route, established in 1971 is world renowned and a common tourist destination.
The area has a mediterranean-type climate, with hot summers, cool winters and clear, sunny skies. It is at the start of the Cape Fold mountains, which have created soil favourable to vines. Grapes are grown primarily for wine, not as table grapes.
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University is one of South Africa's leading universities. This institution has a rich history dating back to 1863 and has 10 faculties, including Engineering, Science and Arts.
The University currently has about 25,000 students. Although the official language of the university is Afrikaans, most post-graduate courses are presented in English. The university is currently under pressure to increase the usage of English in lectures, but there is a strong movement against this. The rationale is that almost all the other South African universities are already exclusively English and Afrikaans is a dominant language in the Western Cape region.
External link
- Official Stellenbosch Website - Includes a number of photos and maps
- Wikitravel article