Paarl

Municipality

Municipality: Drakenstein Local Municipality

Paarl Tourism Bureau

216 Main St
Paarl

Phone number: 021-872-3829
Fax number: 021-872-9376
Email: Email inquiry
Web: See the website

Paarl is Dutch for Pearl, named by Abraham Gabbema in 1657 because of the sun's reflection on the dolomite rocks.

Attractions

Also see the neighbouring towns

There are several museums in town. Oude pastorie, built in 1787, was built as the parsonage and is now a cultural museum. The Strooidakkerk, with its thatch roof, was built in 1805 and is still in use. On the granite hill is a monument to the Afrikaans language - probably the only monument in the world dedicated to a language! Millwater Wildflower Garden is on Paarl Rock and offers viewing of wild flowers, such as proteas and pin cusions, and picnic spots next to the Mill stream, which once provided power for a water mill.

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History

Paarl was established in 1720 as a church centre. It became a municipality in 1840. In the early days Paarl was known as the centre for the construction of wagons. That part of the Berg River Valley was also known as Wagenmakers Valleij (Dutch for Wagonmakers Valley).

Suburbs

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