Paarl Museum
The Paarl Museum, in a traditional Cape Dutch home dating from 1787, is packed with artifacts and curiosities that piece together the story of the town. The house itself retains many of its original fixtures and fittings. The exhibitions are a combination of antiques, family treasures, and apartheid resistance information — capturing the heritage and essence of Paarl.
Paarl Wine Route
The second-oldest wine route in the country, encompassing 19 farms, is known for its crisp whites and full-bodied reds. Although best known for their Shiraz, Paarl vineyards also produce pinotage, viognier, and chardonnay wines. Consider pairing your wines of choice with a sample of the local goats’-milk cheese and olives.
Afrikaans Language Monument
This aesthetically unique monument designed by an acclaimed local architect sits atop Paarl Mountain. Its curling, tapering abstract towers represent the roots of the Afrikaans language, which is based on Dutch with origins in Europe, Asia, and Africa. The center has an exhibition area and spectacular views from the top of the mountain. Just 20 minutes away, between Paarl and Franschhoek, you’ll find the Nelson Mandela Statue outside the Drakenstein Correctional Centre, paying homage to the South African anti-apartheid leader and president who was released from the prison in 1990.