Visit wine farms in Franschhoek which still stand proud after 300 years in an open-air tram

If you would like to add an extra special adventure to your visit in the Franschhoek Valley then the Franschhoek Wine Tram is the perfect experience to bring magic to your day spent in this beautiful corner of South Africa.

Known as the Wine and Gourmet capital of South Africa, Franschhoek is a spectacularly beautiful valley which is home to wine estates that are over 300 years old, living alongside boutique wineries in perfect harmony.

Originally settled in 1688, French Huguenot refugees were given land by the Dutch government in this valley originally called Olifantshoek, named after the elephants that chose this valley as the perfect birthing place for their calves.  With over 176 French settlers in the area it didn’t take long to make this picturesque valley their home and change the name to the more appropriate le Coin Français, ‘the French Corner’.

Having brought generations of wine making to the Franschhoek Valley, these settlers chose to name their farms after the regions in France which had once been their home, and today La Motte, Champagne, La Cotte, Cabrière, La Provence, Bourgogne, La Terra de Luc and La Dauphine still stand proud as some of the first established wine farms.

The Architecture in Franschhoek and the surrounding valley is an experience on its own, with the restrictions that have been placed on renovations and new buildings in place, much of the village remains in pristine condition with its unspoiled Cape Dutch architecture.

A trip on the Franschhoek Wine Tram is going to take you through all these world renowned wine estates in their open-air tram, slowly meandering through vineyards in perfect rows set against the breathtaking backdrops of the mountains surrounding the region.  Hop-on and Hop-off at some of the most famous wine estates to taste and buy fine wine, and stop off for a picnic or lunch at one of the restaurants along the route.

The Franschhoek Wine Tram is made for a romantic couple of hours or a fun family outing, bringing along kids and grandparents for a day of trundling through this beautiful valley, the kids will love the open-air tram and the adults will be able to indulge all their senses in everything that makes Franschhoek a must on any bucket list.