Montagu
Another little gem of a village between Cape Town and Oudtshoorn on Route 62 is the wine-producing town of Montagu. Known as the ‘mountain mecca’ of the Cape, Montagu is one of the best examples of a late Victorian agricultural village, with a number of well-preserved Cape Dutch and Georgian buildings in Long Street.
Montagu is not just a place to relax and recharge your batteries, there are plenty of outdoor activities in the area, such as mountain biking, kloofing, abseiling, paragliding, fishing and river boat trips up the Breede River.
Perhaps the main attraction in Montagu is the radioactive hot springs on the edge of the village. The Kloof, including the Baths complex, was completely devastated by floods in 1981, since reconstructed, and you can now take the charming Lover’s Walk route through the cliffs to the springs. Another notable attraction is the Nature Garden, a joy to visit during spring when wild flowers are in bloom.
This area was virtually impenetrable in the old days until until the famous roadbuilder, Thomas Bain, built the pass and tunnel through to where Montagu stands today, the gateway to the Klein Karoo.