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Paarl (Pêrel in Afrikaans), established in 1690, is the third oldest European settlement in South Africa and the largest town in the Cape Winelands. It is situated about 60km north-east of Cape Town in the Western Cape province and is renowned for its illustrious past and scenic beauty.
In 1687 farms were allocated to early Dutch colonists in the picturesque Berg River Valley, which is flanked to the north by the Paarl mountains. The name Paarl originates from the Dutch “peerl" meaning pearl because of the appearance of a rocky outcrop above the town. After rain, early Dutch explorer Abraham Gabbema, noticed that three smooth domes of rock above the valley glinted like pearls because of the way that Mica chips embedded in the granite glistened in the sun.
It is here that the foundations of the Afrikaans Language were laid by the Genootskap van Regte Afrikaners. The Afrikaanse Taalmonument (Monument for the Afrikaans Language) on the slopes of Paarl Mountain, the Language Museum and the Afrikaans Language Route through Dal Josaphat are memorials to this rich history. The former headquarters of the wine industry in South Africa is also here, the famous "Co-operative Wine Growers' Association", better known by its Afrikaans initials “KWV”. KWV's main wine production and maturation facilities remain on its Paarl premises, while its brandy production takes place in Worcester and its grape juice concentrate production in Upington.
Today, Paarl is home to a prosperous community, with many well maintained and attractive Cape Dutch houses, beautiful gardens and streets lined with oak trees. Tourists flock here for the Paarl Wine Route, with its many wine tasting opportunities, including vintages from the famous Nederburg estate.
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