Genadendal and Greyton
Two delightful and historically important towns that you can easily do in a day from Hermanus, which first involves returning to the N2 at Breedasdorp before heading onwards in an Easterly direction. You will come to Genadendal first, a quaint little village just six kilometres away from Greyton, which is one of the most popular towns to visit in the Western Cape. Look out for the turn off to the left to Genadendal.
This is the site of the oldest Moravian mission village on the continent and at its heart are the original little thatched and predominantly white-walled cottages that first housed Georg Schmidt, the German missionary of the Moravian church who founded the village and the mission. He arrived in the area in 1738, only to be thrown out eight years later by rival Cape Dutch Reformed Church clergy. But the Moravians returned 45 years later to resume Schmidt’s work, and Genadendal grew into one of the largest settlements in the Cape Colony.
It’s a very quiet little town now, a bit run down, but in the centre of the town is a community project run by locals who make available a museum, an operational water mill, a printing museum, a restaurant, a group of weavers, a bookshop and country-style accommodation to visitors.
Genadendal means Valley of Grace and the surrounding area certainly lives up to its name.
But further along the road, you will find the beautiful village of Greyton, home of the famous Von Geusau’s chocolates …..