Huguenot Monument

The monument stands at the head of the Franschhoek valley, which takes its name - French corner - from the Huguenots who settled here from 1688 after fleeing religious persecution in France. Around two hundred families arrived at the Cape, a small number that had an outsized effect on farming and especially on winemaking, and their surnames survive across the region: du Toit, Malan, de Villiers, Joubert, Marais. The monument was inaugurated in 1948: three linked arches representing the Trinity, and in front of them a female figure standing on a globe with a Bible in one hand and a broken chain in the other, stepping off the fleur-de-lis of France. Behind it a reflecting pool and mountain backdrop. The Huguenot Memorial Museum next door holds genealogies, furniture and documents, and is the practical part of the visit for anyone tracing a family name.

What you actually see

• The three arches - a 1948 monument representing the Trinity above a reflecting pool.
• The central figure - a woman on a globe with a Bible and a broken chain.
• The 1688 settlement - about two hundred families whose surnames still fill the region.
• The memorial museum - genealogies and documents next to the monument.

When to go

September to April. One hour, more with the museum.

Honest expectations

The monument is small and takes fifteen minutes; the museum is the substance. There is a fee for each. Franschhoek in season is crowded and expensive. Parking near the monument is limited on weekends.

Nearby

Franschhoek's wine farms fill the valley; the pass climbs east.