Ladismith

Ladismith is named after the wife of Sir Harry Smith, Lady Juana Smith, and after 1879 spelt this way to avoid confusion with the town Ladysmith in Kwazulu-Natal

Attractions

Also see the neighbouring towns

Ladismith is on the foot of Towerkop (2189m), south of the Klein Swartberg Mountains (2325m), and north of Rooiberg (1490m) and the Langeberg Mountain Range. Elandsberg (2128m) lies to the east of Towerkop. Touwsberg (1491m) is west of Ladismith. The Groot River flows southward on the west side of Ladismith, and into the Touws River south of the town.

Ladismith is an agricultural centre in the western Kleinkaroo.

The town is on the R62 between Barrydale and Calitzdorp, on the R327 to Van Wyksdorp and eventually to the N2 near Mossel Bay, and on the R323 to Riversdale. Cape Town is about 300km to the west, Oudtshoorn 100km to the east.

The Huisrivier Pass is on the R62 on the way to Calitzdorp. The Garcias Pass is on the R323 to Riversdale.

Gamkaskloof (The Hell) is northeast of Ladismith. The road there turns of the R62 at Droëvlei near Zoar, and passes through the Seweweekspoort Pass as well as the Bosluiskloof Pass. This route, however, is not the access route to Gamkaskloof, which should be taken from the R328 north of Oudtshoorn.

There is a spa at Warmwaterberg.

Architecture

Buildings reflect different building styles and eras, ranging from Cape-Dutch and Victorian to Edwardian. A variation on the Georgian style, known as the Ladismith style, dates from the 1830s when this imported style was simplified for local conditions. There is a Neo-Gothic Otto Hager church.

Klein Karoo Nature Reserve

The Klein Karoo Nature Reserve borders Ladismith on the south on the R62 route.

Anysberg Nature Reserve

The Anysberg Nature Reserve is about 80Km to the west on a dust road and is south of Laingsburg, north of Montagu.

Seweweekspoort

Seweweekspoort (Seven Weeks Poort), opened in 1862 for access through the Swartberg Mountain Range, and is off the R62 between Ladismith and Calitzdorp, en route to the Gamkaskloof. The Seven Weeks Pass winds for 17Km through the Klein-Swartberg Mountains. Its elevation ranges between 600-1000m above sea-level, with drops on the sides between 1500m and 2000m. The road crosses the Seweweekspoort River 23 times.

Things to do in Seweweekspoort

Hiking, moutainbiking, 4x4 routes

Events

There is an annual Seweweekspoort Mountainbike Challenge.

Things to do

Hiking, mountain biking, 4x4 routes, canoeing, abseiling.

History

Ladismith was laid out in 1852 on a portion of the farm Ylands Vallei, owned by Balthazar Kloppers. It became a municipality in 1903.

Ladismith is named after the wife of Sir Harry Smith, Lady Juana Smith, and after 1879 spelt this way to avoid confusion with the town Ladysmith in Kwazulu-Natal.

Economy

Agiculture: Ostrich, sheep, cattle, goats. Fruit: grapes, peaches, plums, apricots. Wines.

There are two cheese factories in Ladismith.

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