tunnel
Huguenot Tunnel
South Africa's longest road tunnel, boring 3.9 km through the Du Toitskloof mountains on the N1 near Paarl and bypassing the old scenic pass above it.
11 km · about 20 min drive
AfricaSouth AfricaWestern Cape
Paarl
Western Cape, South Africa · Africa
About Paarl
Paarl works well as a base: 20 minutes from Wellington, 44km from Route 62.
Paarl is in Western Cape, South Africa, with about 240,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Wellington, about 11 km away.
Paarl (; Afrikaans: [ˈpæːrəl]; derived from parel, meaning "pearl" in Dutch) is a town with 294,457 inhabitants in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is the largest town in the Cape Winelands. Due to the growth of the Mbekweni township, it is now a de facto urban unit with Wellington. It is situated aboutRead more
60 kilometres (37 mi) northeast of Cape Town in the Western Cape Province and is known for its scenic environment and viticulture and fruit-growing heritage.
Paarl is the seat of the Drakenstein Local Municipality; although not part of the Cape Town metropolitan area, it falls within its economic catchment. Paarl is unusual among South African place-names, in being pronounced differently in English than in Afrikaans; likewise unusual about the town's name is Afrikaners customary attachment to it, saying not in Paarl, but rather in die Paarl, or in die Pêrel (literally, "in the Paarl").
Paarl gained additional international attention when, on 11 February 1990, Nelson Mandela walked, with live international television coverage, out of Victor Verster Correctional Centre (now known as Drakenstein Correctional Centre) in Paarl ending his 27 years of imprisonment, and beginning a course to South Africa's post-apartheid era and, notably, to multi-racial elections. Mandela spent three years in prison here living in a private house within the walls. Today, a bronze statue of Mandela stands outside the prison.
Paarl hosted three matches of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003. The headquarters of Ceres Fruit Juices is located in the city, although its namesake and source of much of the fruit, Ceres Valley, lies around one hour's drive to the northeast.
The district is particularly well known for its Pearl Mountain or "Paarl Rock". This huge granite rock consists of three rounded outcrops. Paarl Rock consists of intrusive igneous rock.
Where to Stay in Paarl
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Paarl?
Within an hour or so of Paarl: Huguenot Tunnel (11 km), Franschhoek Motor Museum (16 km), Bainskloof Pass (17 km), Franschhoek Pass (26 km).
Are there any good drives near Paarl?
The nearest famous roads are Bainskloof Pass, Franschhoek Pass and Route 62.
Where is Paarl?
Paarl is in Western Cape, South Africa, about 11 km from Wellington.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 236,910
- Continent
- Africa
- Country
- South Africa
- Region
- Western Cape
- Timezone
- Africa/Johannesburg
- Coordinates
- -33.7338, 18.9752
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in South Africa
112 works from mobiles. Avoid driving at night in rural areas; keep doors locked in cities.
Full driving guide for South AfricaTags
Worth the detour from Paarl
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
museum
Franschhoek Motor Museum
Elegant museum in the Cape Winelands housing over 220 vehicles from an 1898 Beeston to modern supercars.
16 km · about 20 min drive
historic highway
Bainskloof Pass
An 1853 Thomas Bain pass that runs as a narrow ledge blasted into the mountainside above the Witte River, barely altered since construction and now a national monument. The tarred road is single-lane in places with dramatic drop-offs.
17 km · about 20 min drive
mountain pass
Franschhoek Pass
A sweeping tarred climb out of the Franschhoek wine valley on the R45, following an old elephant migration route and offering a lay-by view back over the vineyard-filled bowl. Quick to drive and a favourite of Cape Town car clubs.
26 km · about 30 min drive
famous road
Route 62
South Africa's longest wine route, a scenic alternative to the Garden Route passing through the Klein Karoo and wine valleys.
44 km · about 50 min drive
museum
Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa
Africa's largest contemporary art museum, carved from a historic grain silo on Cape Town's waterfront.
55 km · about 65 min drive
famous road
N1/N4 Cape Town to Kruger
South Africa's grand traverse from the Cape Winelands across the Karoo to Kruger National Park and its Big Five wildlife.
55 km · about 65 min drive
landmark
Two Oceans Aquarium
Cape Town aquarium at the V&A Waterfront showcasing marine life from both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
55 km · about 65 min drive
Driving roads near Paarl
- Right hereHuguenot TunnelSouth Africa's longest road tunnel, boring 3.9 km through the Du Toitskloof mountains on the N1 near Paarl and bypassing the old scenic pass above it.
- 17 kmBainskloof PassAn 1853 Thomas Bain pass that runs as a narrow ledge blasted into the mountainside above the Witte River, barely altered since construction and now a national monument. The tarred road is single-lane in places with dramatic drop-offs.
- 26 kmFranschhoek PassA sweeping tarred climb out of the Franschhoek wine valley on the R45, following an old elephant migration route and offering a lay-by view back over the vineyard-filled bowl. Quick to drive and a favourite of Cape Town car clubs.
- 44 kmRoute 62South Africa's longest wine route, a scenic alternative to the Garden Route passing through the Klein Karoo and wine valleys.
- 55 kmN1/N4 Cape Town to KrugerSouth Africa's grand traverse from the Cape Winelands across the Karoo to Kruger National Park and its Big Five wildlife.
- 55 kmClarence Drive (R44)A cliff-hugging coastal road between Gordon's Bay and Rooi-Els along False Bay, rated among the world's great ocean drives, with whale sightings in season.
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