Water features and gardens at the Vergelegen wine estate in the Western Cape, South Africa. Distant Hottentots-Holland mountains
Vergelegen (Dutch: "remotely situated") is a historic wine estate in Somerset West, in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The estate was settled in 1700 by an early Governor of the Cape, Willem Adriaan van der Stel. Van der Stel used the resources of his employer, the Dutch East India Company, to improve the estate, and in 1706 a number of free burghers at the Cape drew up a formal memorandum complaining about van der Stel's illegal activities. This memorandum contains some of the earliest images and descriptions of the estate. As a consequence of the free burghers' complaints, van der Stel and other officials were sacked, and three-quarters of the original Vergelegen estate was sold off, drastically reducing the size of the property. Vergelegen's Cape Dutch house, gardens and winery are open to visitors. Interesting features of any visit include a trip up the mountain to the winery plant, and a walk under the vast Camphor laurels (Cinnamomum camphora) planted by Willem van der Stel in about 1705 which have been declared a protected provincial heritage site. The winery is uniquely shaped in an octagon form that is mirrored on the vineyard's labels. It was into this rich history that, in 2012, landscape architects OvP Associates were commissioned to design a brand new East Garden as an extension of the recently completed Stables restaurant. A family–friendly, bistro style eatery, the restaurant naturally required a garden with wide-ranging appeal. The aim was to provide a garden of exceptional visual delight with recreational activities for the young and not so young, suitable for families with children.
Size: 2998px × 4250px
Location: Vergelegen Estate,Somerset West, Western Cape, South Africa
Photo credit: © Derek Gale / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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