The town of Somerset West, named after the British Governor Lord Charles Somerset, lies at the foot of the Helderberg mountain, part of the Hottentots-Holland range, and is some 30km east of Cape Town. The town itself is fairly young, having been founded only in 1822, but on the outskirts of Somerset West one finds the historic wine estate of Vergelegen (from the Dutch for “situated far away”, because when the then Governor of the Cape, Willem Adriaan van der Stel established the estate in 1700, it took three days by ox wagon from Cape Town).
Six years after he had established the estate, Van der Stel had already planted half a million vines, and thus started the history of wine making at Vergelegen. The estate passed from hand to hand over the centuries, but nowadays it belongs to the Anglo-American group of companies and the quality of the wines produced here now is exceptional. Today there are 24 vineyards covering 107ha (264 acres).
The estate is also popular just before Christmas, when thousands of people attend the annual carols by candlelight held on the main lawn in front of the old manor house.
These old camphor trees were planted by Van der Stel between 1700 and 1706 and are today protected as part of South Africa’s national heritage.
Lovely old oak trees provide wonderful shade in the summer heat.
A glimpse through an archway into a secluded side of the old homestead.
The homestead, built by Van der Stel between 1700 and 1705.
One of the many old oak trees on the estate, originally brought out by the early Dutch settlers. This one was planted during Van der Stel’s tenure.
A very special oak tree, grown from one of the very last acorns from King Alfred’s Oak in the gardens of Bleinheim Palace in England. This tree was planted in 1928, and in 1947 King George VI personally collected some of the acorns to be planted in the Great Park at Windsor.
The view across the octagonal garden towards the Hottentots-Holland mountains.
Looking across the octagonal garden towards the homestead.
RT Cam 
Such a pretty area and some wonderful photos you’ve taken. Looks like a lovely place to visit.
Thank you, Michelle! Yes, it is indeed a lovely place to visit… and the wine is great, too! 🙂
Like the photographs of the old trees; the camphor trees in particular. Struck by your saying the estate is over 300 years old; I had not realised that the Dutch had started colonising the Cape that early.
Yes, Jan van Riebeeck arrived there in April 1652 to found the refreshment station the “Here XVII” (the seventeen gentlemen in charge of the Dutch East India Company) ordered him to set up. They had been aware of what the Cape was like for some time, as a number of Dutch sailors had been shipwrecked there and had reported on the favourable conditions upon their rescue. My Huguenot ancestors arrived at the Cape in 1688 and settled in the area now known as Franschhoek (French Corner). The present Castle in Cape Town was completed by 1679, and is the oldest existant building in South Africa.
Oui un tres beau pays ou la trace des ancetres hugenots se voit dans toutes choses
Lovely trees and architecture, the warmth in your images is a welcome sight for me in the midst of a typical UK winter!
Nearby to where I live are some old houses with dutch gables, very similar to the ones on the homestead shown here built by Van de Stel. Very enjoyable images.
David….http://www.lincolnshirecam.blogspot.co.uk/