Montagu is a town in the Western Cape province of South Africa, about 180 kilometres (110 mi) from Cape Town in the Western Little Karoo.
Montagu | |
|---|---|
Clockwise from the top: A view down the main street in Montagu, a historic home, Montagu Museum, Great Trek Monument, the Montagu Dutch Reformed Church. | |
  Montagu  Montagu | |
| Coordinates: 33°47′S 20°7′E / 33.783°S 20.117°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Western Cape |
| District | Cape Winelands |
| Municipality | Langeberg |
| Established | 1856[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 32.71 km2 (12.63 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[2] | |
• Total | 15,176 |
| • Density | 460/km2 (1,200/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 6.4% |
| • Coloured | 75.7% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.5% |
| • White | 16.4% |
| • Other | 1.0% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Afrikaans | 91.2% |
| • English | 5.5% |
| • Xhosa | 1.5% |
| • Other | 1.9% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 6720 |
| PO box | 6720 |
| Area code | 023 |
| Website | http://www.montagu-ashton.info |
The town is named after former secretary of the Cape Colony, John Montagu, but was once known as Agter Cogman's Kloof, Cogman's Kloof linking the town and railway station. It is situated at the confluence of the Keisie and Kingna rivers.
Montagu was founded on the farm "Uitvlugt" in 1851, and is known for its hot mineral springs and scenic mountains. It is also an agricultural centre, where orchards and vineyards are in production and local herbs are grown. The farming area, 'Koo', lies north of the town and is famous for the quality of its apples, pears, apricots and peaches.
Recreation
editNearby rock formations make it one of the country's major rock climbing venues. The 1,266 m (4,154 ft) high Bloupunt peak overlooks the village and offers several hiking trails, as well as kloofing and mountain biking trails further afield.
Popular crags for rock climbing include Legoland, The Steeple and Bad Kloof.
Location
editMontagu is near the Robertson Wine Valley and is most easily reached via the Route 62 scenic route.
Pastor Emeritus Matthys du Toit was born in Montagu.[citation needed]
The author Francis Brett Young spent his final years in Montagu.[citation needed]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Robson, Linda Gillian (2011). "Annexure A" (PDF). The Royal Engineers and settlement planning in the Cape Colony 1806–1872: Approach, methodology and impact (PhD thesis). University of Pretoria. pp. xlv–lii. hdl:2263/26503.
- ^ a b c d "Main Place Montagu". Census 2011.
External links
edit
- Official website
Montagu travel guide from Wikivoyage
