About Paarl

Paarl lies along the Berg River between Paarl Mountain, one of the world's largest granite outcrops, and the Drakenstein range, a setting that has made it one of South Africa's major wine towns since French Huguenot settlers introduced viticulture here from 1688. Beyond wine, the town has deep cultural significance as the birthplace of the movement to have Afrikaans recognised as a written, national language, commemorated today by the Afrikaanse Taalmonument on the mountain above the town. Its economy still runs on agriculture and agri-processing, from citrus, olives and tobacco to wine and food manufacturing, alongside a role as an educational and regional commercial hub for the Cape Winelands. Wine estates such as Nederburg and Laborie anchor much of the town's tourism today.

Paarl's spring calendar opens with cyclists tackling the Filthy Fondo Paarl Rock. Paarl Gymnasium Primary School stages the Laerskool Paarl Gimnasium Revue the same week, while music lovers can catch ROSSINI'S STABAT MATER. Athletes from across the schools compete at Dal Josafat Athletics Stadium for Curro Podium South - high schools, and Simonsvlei Wines closes out the month with Chris Steyn Live At Simonsvlei.