GRANDE ROCHE - PAARL (CAPE WINELANDS):
Nestled in the fertile Paarl Valley the Grande Roche Hotel is a highly acclaimed destination internationally - for its beautiful location on a working farm in the Cape winelands, luxury accommodation, gourmet cuisine, excellent service and the warmth of its hospitality.

The Hotel offers Bosman's Gourmet restaurant – open-air dining with spectacular views, Tarantella Bar and a wonderful braai/barbecue area. There is also a pool, gym and massage room with private masseur, sauna and steam bath, fitness room, 24-hour room service, an antique/African art gift shop and ample parking.

A perfect setting, reflecting all the tranquillity and finesse that is Grande Roche. Sunrise or sunset, there's always a sense of magical expectancy- History, Romance, warmth and Charm.

Grande Roche has a personality of its own...a senstive and sensitised environment where you can still experience the tranquil nobility of life...relaxing by the Kraal pool or Patio pool... or simply strolling around the impeccable grounds.

Individual suites are tastefully furnished in every detail to create a relaxing ambience and mood.

JUNIOR DUPLEX SUITE:
The historic wine cellar now houses five Junior duplex suites with characterful features such as thatched roofs, bamboo and yellowwood ceilings.

Named after former grape varieties grown on the farm – Hermitage, Semillon, Muscadel, Hanepoot and Alphonse Lavalle - one of the suites still has the old window that was big enough for rolling barrels in and out of the cellar – and the outline of the remains of a large vat are visible in the passage. Suitable for single occupation or double-occupant patron for short stays.

HOTEL AMMENITIES:
"Kraal Fitness Centre", initiated within the 18th Century Kraalwalls and Herdman's Cottage, with a well equiped Gym, Massage room with qualified masseur, Sauna and steam room and heated pool with quiet sunbathing area. ( no children under 15)

- Two floodlit tennis courts (hard surface)
- Second swimming pool at manor house for adults and children
- Bicycles and mountain bikes for adults and children
- Hiking trail starting from the estate, leading into Paarl with Nature Reserve
- Golf handcarts available
- Historic chapel for intimate weddings, christenings, meditation or renewal of vows
- E-centre – with 24-hour dedicated Internet and email, fax and photocopying and cameras.
- La Rochelle Gallery for Antiques/ Jewellery/ African Art
- Shaded parking
- Helicopter landing pad
- All major Credit cards accepted. Regret no cheques or Traveller's cheques accepted.

CIGARS:
Cigar dinners, featuring a guest speaker and selected cigars are part of Grande Roche's special gourmet programme. It is popular among those who enjoy the fellowship of cigar smoking. The hotel is also home to the Bosman's Cigar Club, a novel idea initiated by the late Theo Rudman, well-known cigar and port aficionado.

To comply with South Africa's stringent no-smoking laws, comfortable venues are provided where an excellently maintained Cuban, Dominican Republic or Mexican cigar from our extensive humidor can be enjoyed. Our staff are trained to help you select the cigar to suit your taste, cut and light it for you!

Cycling
The hotel has a number of bicycles, including a tandem, for leisurely rides through the historic town of Paarl and the relatively level countryside.

Sport & Leisure:
There are many interesting sport and leisure activities available close to the Hotel. Our Guest Services staff will provide information or arrange reservations and transport to any of these venues.

Kraal Fitness Centre
The Kraal Fitness Centre has excellent training equipment, a sauna, steam room, massage room with on-staff masseur, and a heated outdoor pool. Temporary membership at the Paarl Virgin Active Health and Fitness club can also be arranged as well as the services of a personal trainer.

Hiking and walking
Home is where one starts from… from Grande Roche there is a 45-minute hiking trail (one-way), through indigenous forest, along a tranquil kloof. This trail can connect with the trails in the Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve. Further afield in the Boland or Cape Town area, there are a variety of hiking trails in the mountains and nature and coastal reserves – and the challenge of Table Mountain.

Fishing
Gone fishing … cast a line off the rocks along balmy beaches, experience the excitement of big game fishing in the deep of two oceans, or fly fishing in quiet mountain streams around Paarl and in Franschoek.

Sightseeing:
There are many day tours available to take on your own, with a self-drive or a chauffeur-driven vehicle. Detailed maps can be supplied on request – and arrangements can be made for tour guides in the language of your choice.

Swimming
Two sparkling pools – on the patio at the Tarantella Bar at the manor house or the gently heated pool at the Kraal Fitness Centre.

Tennis
Two floodlit tennis hard courts at the hotel.

Golf
The hotel is situated within easy reach of 12 quality golf courses with 5-40 minute drive – each offering the novice and ‘pro’ golfer its own individual challenge - a veritable golfer's paradise!

Jogging
There are many jogging routes near the hotel to choose from - through the vineyards, the Paarl Mountain Reserve, and historic streets of Paarl.

Horse riding
Horses for courses … explore the beautiful Paarl Valley and surrounds on horseback - stables located near the hotel.

Parachuting
Thrills and spills for the novice or regular parachutist - free-falling and drifting gently over scenic hills and valleys of the Boland.

Watersports
Water, water, everywhere … there are many watersports to be enjoyed on the nearby rivers, dams and sea resorts - water-skiing, power-boating, yachting and sailing for the energetic - and sunset cruises in Table Bay or False Bay for the slow movers.

Diving (scuba)
Explore a world of wonder under the guidance of competent instructors – diving on famous shipwrecks along the coast.

PAARL:
Simply a 40-minute drive outside Cape Town, at the foot of the second-largest granite outcrop in the world, you’ll find an unexpected jewel: the scenic town of Paarl.

Paarl is a town to visit for all reasons, it offers you a diversity of attractions - from museums & galleries to shops selling handmade gifts and products made by local crafters.

Food for the soul:
The balmy summers call for outside entertaining: a light but long lunch in the shade, glasses filled with chilled wine. During the rainy Cape winters everyone moves indoors and huddles around the fireplace with a glass of world-class red wine, produced right here in the Paarl Valley.

At rest:
The best way to experience the subtle pleasures of the Paarl Valley is to stay over for a night or two. There is ample accommodation in town and on farms, including campsites, homestays, B&Bs, quaint boutique hotels and five-star hotels.

Down memory lane:
When entering town, stop at the Strooidak Church - one of the oldest and most historic churches in South Africa and then proceed to Paarl Museum for an interesting overview of Paarl's colourful history.

A trip down the 12-km long Main Road, the longest in the country, is a trip down memory lane. The buildings lining Main Road present a mosaic of the most superb examples of Cape Dutch, Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco architecture.

Giants of Paarl:
The arboreal giants of Paarl – mainly oaks donated by Simon van der Stel, Governor of the Cape of Good Hope colony – provide shade on hot summer days. On the bank of the Berg River is an arboretum that boasts some 4 000 trees representing about 700 indigenous and exotic species.

Scenic splendour:
The scenic beauty of the Paarl Valley compels visitors to get in the car and drive along the many scenic routes in the valley and along the surrounding mountains. The richness in fauna and flora even attracted the attention of Charles Darwin, father of the theory of evolution, when he visited Paarl in 1836.

For the adventurous at heart:
Explore the Paarl Valley from a different angle, either on horseback along the foothills of the mountains or through vineyards, or from a hot-air balloon in the early morning or on any of the wide variety of hiking trails and bike routes to choose from.

For the family
Keep the children entertained by paying a visit to some of the interesting attractions in and around town such as the crocodile farm, snake park or glass-blowing studio. Mom and dad can savour the world-class wines on the wine route and visit the oldest existing cooperage in the country.

A rich history
Paarl proudly bears the title of the third-oldest town in South Africa. Standing tall on Paarl Mountain and celebrating the birth of Afrikaans is the Afrikaans Language Monument erected in 1975 and just outside Paarl is Drakenstein Prison, where Nelson Mandela spent his last years of captivity and started his walk to freedom.

Boland Kelder:
Boland Kelder, situated in the heart of the Cape Winelands has over the last decade evolved into a dynamic and progressive cellar, one which is fast realising its true potential. The last 7 years has seen Boland garner a host of medals and awards at international and domestic competitions, highlighting the quality of the wines it offers. Boland Kelder invites you to come and taste our exciting range of wine from Monday to Friday 8h00 till 5h00 and Saturdays from 9h00 till 2h00.

Cape Olive Trust:
The Home of Buffet Olives, the largest table olive producer in South Africa. Tours by appointment.

Drakenstein Olywe:
Wholesome olives...a gift from the fertile soil of the Drakenstein Valley, the home of Drakenstein Olives. Fermentation and preserving are done the natural way - Nature’s recipe for nutritiousness. Products: Olives, Olive oil, Olyf tapenade, Olive tasting by arrangement, minimum 4 people.

I Love Wine Shoppe:
An eclectic selection of Paarl`s finest "Garagistes" & limited production wines can now be sampled at a single venue - I LOVE WINE set in a converted barn in the historic La Concordia (1845) building. One is greeted by a roaring fire on chilly mornings, while huge wine vats & hunting trophies adorn raw brick walls. Apart from sampling superb wines, visitors can partake in a variety of activities offered at Eccentric Trading & Homebase. Light lunches, deli-delights and coffee shop treats are also on offer. Open Mon - Sat 09:00 - 17:00 Closed on 25 & 26 Dec; 1 Jan.

Megu:
Owner and Chef Munetaka Kimura has prepared cuisine for top restaurants in London, Tokyo, Provence & Uruguay as well as the Grande Roche in Paarl. At Megu, Mune offers an Asian twist on the yakiniku style of eating and drinking - an authentic flavour of the East with respect to the traditions of the past.

Perdeberg Winery:
Perdeberg Winery spans 3 000 hectares of the finest wine country in South Africa and offers an award winning range of wines that will certainly appeal to all wine lovers’ palates.

Wilderer’s Distillery:
The finest spirits from the Cape. Open: 7 days a week from 11:00 -17:00 - October - April Tasting & Lunch