Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch is a town in the Western Cape province of South Africa, located about 50 kilometers east of Cape Town in the Cape Winelands. It is the administrative center of the Stellenbosch Local Municipality in the Cape Winelands District. The town sits at the foot of Stellenbosch Mountain, near the Eerste River, and is known for its natural setting and historic core.

Founded in the late 17th century by the Dutch East India Company governor Simon van der Stel, Stellenbosch developed as a wine-farming community. Its town center preserves Cape Dutch and Georgian-era architecture, with oak-lined streets and a university campus anchored by Stellenbosch University, founded in 1918. The university is a major research institution and remains a prominent feature of the town.

The local economy centers on education, research, and viticulture. The surrounding wine estates form part of the Stellenbosch Wine Route, one of the oldest and best-known wine tourism areas in South Africa. Visitors frequently explore historic streets, museums, markets, and nearby nature reserves in the surrounding valley and mountains.

Culturally, Stellenbosch hosts galleries, festivals, and sports clubs, reflecting a blend of university town life and rural farming heritage. The town is connected by road to Cape Town and the broader Western Cape region, and serves as a gateway to winelands tourism and outdoor recreation.