Swartberg Hotel

Swartberg Hotel Hotel / Lodge accommodation in Prince Albert Western Cape

Description

HISTORY

The Swartberg Hotel was established as a hotel in 1864 and is now one of the 22 national monuments within the village of Prince Albert.

 In 1864, John Dyason Jnr bought the ‘large building situated between Market Street and Church Street’ (Erf 192) from the Estate of the late H P Kleuver.  He enlarged the building by placing a second storey onto it and he became the owner of the first hotel in Prince Albert.

Like many old buildings, the SWARTBERG HOTEL has its resident ghostly stories.  Should you choose to dine in the grand Victoria Room, note the two large oil paintings, which were bought by Jan Haak, a prior owner, for £2/10s in 1902.  Legend has it that in the first picture, a young woman in a white robe gazes at a pool fringed with reeds.  In the other, an older woman stands on a path by the same pool.  She is supposed to be the same woman.  Between Act I and Act II she had murdered her lover and thrown his body into the water!  Occasionally the foul deed is betrayed by the pool in the second painting turning blood-red and the woman’s face becoming old and haggard… Could this be true, or merely a trick of light?

Whether this legend is fact or not, we hope that your stay gives you the same amount of pleasure that we have had in creating this magical space.

Situated in the charming Victorian village of Prince Albert and located at the base of the spectacular Swartberg Pass. Only one hour's drive from the Cango Caves, Oudtshoorn, off Route 62 or through the awe inspiring Meiringspoort pass.

Excellent conference facilities, ideal for team building exercises, all set in an olde worlde atmosphere.

The Swartberg Hotel is a haven of character and atmosphere from the stylish rooms in the hotel and the cottage accommodation in the restful garden to the true South African delights of the dining room. 

The Swartberg Hotel, a magnificent Victorian-style hotel with tasteful original decor, has comfortable and stylishly decorated rooms and spacious cottages set in the garden. In summer lunches and teas are served on the verandah, at the swimming pool or in the air-conditioned coffee shop. Evening meals are served in the gracious dining-room. During a chilly Karoo winter's evening, when the mountains are capped with snow, log fires blaze in the lounge, dining room and ladies bar.

Set at the base of the Swartberg Mountains in a landscape that Tolkien could have created, is the village of Prince Albert. Prince Albert is situated only 40km from Oudtshoorn and the Cango Caves via the magnificent and historic Swartberg Pass – considered the second most beautiful in the world, or alternatively via Meiringspoort, an awe inspiring 25 km long passageway of towering red cliffs. Prince Albert and Oudtshoorn are the only towns IN THE WORLD where one can experience going over (Swartberg Pass), through (Meiringspoort) and into the mountains (Cango Caves), within a 100km radius.

The Swartberg Hotel is in the main street, Church Street, of Prince Albert.

The town can be reached from Cape Town by travelling on the N1 and taking the Prince Albert turn-off 84km from Laingsburg.
If you are travelling from Johannesburg on the N1 towards Cape Town, the turn-off is 115km from Beaufort West.
Prince Albert can also be reached from Oudtshoorn via the Swartberg pass or Meiringspoort.

Contact Details Swartberg Hotel 023 541-1332 023 541-1383 Enquire now View Rates View Directions

Attractions

THINGS TO DO IN AND AROUND PRINCE ALBERT

The Ghost Walk

An hour long pre-dinner walk around the streets of the village, in the company of Ailsa Tudhope and the ghosts of Prince Albert. Includes some stories that are amusing, some that are eerie.

Star Gazing

It is a fact that the stars are more beautiful in areas that are not light-polluted. The Karoo is one of them. A short lecture and visuals of the stars through a electronic telescope can show you the wonders of the night skies.

Guided Historical Town Walk

Architecturally, Prince Albert is a gem. 22 National Monuments in and around the district and a very well preserved mix of Cape Dutch, Karoo, Georgian, Neo-Gothic and Victorian buildings.

Geology Tours

Dr Macquire will take you to bushman paintings on her farm 10km from Prince Albert in the Scholtzkloof valley.

Koppie Rambles

For the more energetic. This walk along the hill behind the village takes approximately one and a half hours along a well-defined path which is steep at times. Fossils, and vygies, artists and Anglo-Boer War soldiers.

Prince Albert Gallery

The village boasts many accomplished artists. A selection of their paintings and sculptures are on permanent view.

Fransie Pienaar Museum

This cultural historical museum depicts the history of the village and environment, which dates back to 1762. It is based in the house that was built by the Haak family in 1906.

SoetKaroo Dessert Wine Tasting

Possibly the smallest registered wine farm in South Africa! The grapes are grown in a vineyard behind an old 1841 Cape Dutch house situated directly opposite the SWARTBERG HOTEL.

Swartberg Pass Nature Reserve

Opened in 1888, this spectacular pass is considered one of the finest mountain passes in the world. An un-tarred road that winds to the summit of 1 583 meters above sea level with breathtaking views at every turn. Links Prince Albert to Oudtshoorn.

Cango Caves

An hour’s drive through Meiringspoort, or over the Swartberg Pass. The caves offer viewing of the main halls or an extreme adventure for the more adventurous.

Gamkas Kloof ( Die Hel)

This is a fascinating valley near Prince Albert, where a small, proud community lived in isolation for more than 100 years. Access to Gamkaskloof ( Die Hel) is 15km from Prince Albert near the northern summit of the Swartberg Pass.

Meiringspoort

Soaring cliffs with spectacular rock formations line the 25km tarred road which winds along the floor of the gorge, crossing the Groot River 25 times. Entry to the poort 55km east of Prince Albert en-route to Oudtshoorn and the coast. Amongst the most scenic spots is the waterfall tumbling into a dark pool which, legend has it, is bottomless.

Klaarstroom

Meaning ‘clear stream’ was established in the mid-19th century. It presented the first opportunity for farmers from deep in the Great Karoo to the small port of Mossel Bay, to wash their precious cargo of wool in the clear mountain streams. This remains a historical snapshot of a Southern African Victorian village.

Shopping:

Prince of Africa

Directly next the SWARTBERG HOTEL, this shop offers the highest quality mohair in the world and 90% of the mohair is produced locally.

Wolskuur Spinners

Produces a magnificent range of hand spun, woven rugs in a variety of sizes, designs and colours.

Lazy Lizard

Offers a selection of locally created artworks which includes African beadwork and embroidery.

The Tanner and Leather Trader

Directly opposite the SWARTBERG HOTEL, the shop offers leather goods directly from the local tannery.

Farm Visits:

Weltevrede Fig and Fruit Farm

25km west of Prince Albert on the Weltevrede road. Farm visits can be arranged during the picking and drying season Swartbult Fig Farm The farm is situated 13 km north of Prince Albert and is the biggest dried fig producer in South Africa, indeed one of the biggest dried fig producers in Southern Hemisphere. 3 000 trees cover six hectares and yield 40 tons of fresh figs a year.

Gay’s Dairy

Gay’s beautiful Guernsey cows produce an average of 450 litres of milk a day for consumption in Prince Albert. Tasting of her Internationally Award Winning cheeses. The dairy is open from 7h00 to 8h00 and 17h00 to 18h00 daily.

Accolades

:Tourism Council of SA Star Grading

TGCSA Star Grading

Facilities

Conference

Directions

Location