Worcester, South Africa

Worcester, South Africa is a town situated about 120km from Cape Town, in the Breede River Valley.

The town is seated in the biggest wine- producing district in the country. With its wide range of commercial ventures and services, it acts as a shopping and business center for the entire valley and surrounding area. It also boasts an impressive cultural heritage, with museums providing the visitor with an insightful glimpse into its colorful past, as well as several schools, a college and a special school for the disabled. Outdoor activities to indulge in include hiking, fishing, sailing, unwinding in our invigorating hot springs, or just soaking up the soothing pastoral tranquility. HISTORY In 1819 Worcester was declared a sub-drostdy of Tulbagh. This now large town was once only two farms specifically bought for the purpose of laying out a town. In 1922 Worcester became a full drostdy. The Marquis of Worcester, the brother of Lord Charles Somerset gave Worcester its name.

TRAVEL & TRANSPORT Situated on the main routes to and from Cape Town, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth, the area has an excellent infrastructure of main and provincial roads, providing effective links to the Cape metropolitan area, Overberg, the Garden Route, and further north up the West Coast. It is serviced by a number of bus, taxi and shuttle transport companies, has travel agents and car hire facilities, and passenger trains pass through Worcester on a regular basis. The closest airport is Cape Town International Airport, approx. 110 km away.

ATTRACTIONS Kleinplasie Agricultural Show grounds: Open Air Living Museum, and Reptile World Karoo National Botanical Garden: exhibits 10 ha of indigenous landscaped gardens

KWV Brandy Cellar: tour the largest brandy distillery of its kind in the world

Architectural Walking Routes: brochures available from Publicity Association Leipzip Herb Centre: in beautiful Nuy Valley, buy fresh and dried herbs and seedlings Space 2000 Amusement Centre for kids with mini-golf, mini-cars and games rooms Markets: a Flea Market is held every Saturday morning at Church Square Browsing through several gift and antique shops The Worcester Museum Ideally situated for day trips to surrounding towns like Tulbach, Ceres, De Doorns, Du Toitskloof, Cape Town, Robertson, Montagu, Bonnievale, McGregor, Villiersdorp, Hermanus or the West Coast.