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A Narrow Valley Stretches 200 Km From East To West
A Narrow Valley Stretches 200 Km From East To West
500m above sea level, it nestles between the coastal mountains and the majestic Swartberg Mountain range on either side of the scenic R62. The Karoo derived its name from the Khoisan word meaning “land of thirst”. It is a land of extremes: low rainfall, arid air, cloudless skies and extreme heat and cold. It hosts a rich eco-system from hundreds of million years ago, now represented by many fossils.
From Elandsvlei to Ladismith
From Elandsvlei to Ladismith
In 1852 the farm Elandsvlei was set aside for the town, and it became a municipality in 1862. It was named after Lady Juana María de los Dolores de León Smith, the wife of Sir Harry Smith, one of two towns in South Africa named after her, the other being Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal.
A Rich Architectural Heritage
A Rich Architectural Heritage
"Dotted throughout this beautiful landscape are humble cousins of the grand Cape Dutch buildings of the Boland. In the pretty villages and towns the typical flat-roof Karoo-style buildings are found. The ostrich-feather boom of a century ago also left a rich heritage of fine and decorative buildings throughout the region."
(From: The new amidst the Old. Building in the Klein Karoo, Compiled by Hans Fransen)The Historical Sensitive Center of Ladismith
The Historical Sensitive Center of Ladismith
The dotted areas on the map identify concentrations of older architecture. Some of the buildings are highlighted as of 'quality' and 'authenticity'.
Church Street 49 (1911)
Church Street 49 (1911)
This house was built as an additional parsonage and was erected on a plot of land where there used to be a dam, where farmers watered their horses.
Rev. Wouter de Vos lived in the rectory during 1911-1913 together with his wife, Maria Nel. The house was sold in 1945 and later bought by P J Rossouw, the manager of the winery. The house was later bought by the Landbou Cooperation and sold again. The current owners bought the house in Dec 2023.
View from the property to church
Source: Ladimisth Tourm BureauView from the property to church
The 'Cathedral' of the Klein Karoo
The 'Cathedral' of the Klein Karoo
Across the road is the magnificent piece of architecture from Carl Otto Hager, a 'Gothic' church architect. The former Dutch Reformed Church is now a Tourism Office and stands proud with its pinnacles, pointed arches, corner buttresses and matching bell tower.
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