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Country Market Dont' forget about the Friends of the Museum Country Market on the 14th of April 2012. A wonderful opportunity to enjoy yourself in the lovely Museum grounds and to shop for for fresh farm and garden produce and home crafts! Contact Ros Turner at 042 243 1448 for more information or to book a stall. WE HAVE MOVED The Tourist information office has moved! The Tourist Information Office has moved to the Walter Battiss Art Museum, 45 Paulet Street, Somerset East. Come and visit! Please note that the new details for the Tourist Information Office are: Tel 042 243 1448 E-mail: bluecranetourism@gmail.com The Somerset East Museum is an elegant example of a Georgian manor house, and depicts the lifesyle of the four Dutch Reformed Church parsons who lived there for a period of 105 years, until 1943. In 1972 the building was proclaimed a province aided museum and a National Monument. |
Somerset East Accommodation and Tourism Information THIS IS THE SOMERSET EAST WEBSITE, ADMINISTERED BY THE BLUE CRANE TOURISM OFFICE, WHERE YOU WILL FIND ACCURATE, AND REGULARLY UPDATED INFORMATION. PLEASE READ THE NEWS ABOUT THE WALTER BATTISS ART MUSEUM FURTHER DOWN THE PAGE. Welcome to Somerset East, this is where you will find all you need to know about Somerset East, as well as Pearston and Cookhouse, together making up the Blue Crane Route. Up to date information about all Somerset East accommodation, B&Bs and self catering, whether luxury, affordable, or somewhere in between, is listed; as well as events, local information, news, history, and what to see and do in this area. If there is anything else you need to know, contact the Somerset East Tourism office, or send an enquiry via this website. On the fringes of South Africa's Karoo in the malaria free Eastern Cape lies the interesting, attractive and historic little town of Somerset East, which invariably charms all who visit it. The pretty town with its many gardens forms a green oasis, under the iconic Boschberg Mountain. Located as it is, a short distance from the N10 main highway between Port Elizabeth and South Africa's interior, as well as being on one of the main routes to Graaff-Reinet, Somerset East is both a convenient and a natural place to stop over. Those who do stop here will not be disappointed. The town of Somerset East is picturesque, friendly, and quiet, with little traffic, making it easy to explore on foot. You will find restaurants, coffee shops, and places to relax, to suit your needs, in Nojoli Street, the main street of Somerset East. For those who are interested in history, the town owes much of its early years to the British military and settlers as well as the Afrikaners who were farming the area prior to the arrival of the British. This history can be explored both in the town and the surrounding area. (The controversial Slachter's Nek rebellion took place in the district). The Slachter's Nek Exhibition in the Somerset East Museum is of great interest. Another popular drawcard for the town is the Walter Battiss Art Museum, housing the largest collection of this great artist's work to be found in Africa. Battiss was a son of Somerset East, and donated an extensive collection of his work to the town in 1981, which is housed in the old Officer's Mess, a building once run as a private hotel by the Battiss family. Many of Somerset East's houses and buildings reflect this heritage with lots of houses still standing which date from the early 1800's. A walk down Paulet Street is a trip into the past, especially in November when the many Heritage roses planted in Paulet Street are in full bloom. The countryside around Somerset East is quite varied with impressive mountains, rich farmland, forest and open Karoo veld, all within a short drive of the town. There is a fine variety of accommodation in Somerset East and its surrounds, ranging from the luxurious to value for money. Visitors wanting to find out about the various options will find them all listed on this website; from the various hotels, guest houses, B&Bs, and self catering accommodation, back packers, farm stays and game farms, camping and a caravan park on the banks of the Little Fish River. Events
Amabali Ethu Kunstefees
Saturday 19th May 2012 To revive interest in the past, and more importantly to unite all communities, Professor Jakes Gerwel approached Die Burger/Media 24 with the idea of having an arts festival in the Blue Crane Region. Die Burger/Media 24 seized the opportunity and got the Blue Crane Development Agency on board. The Blue Crane Route Municipality agreed to broaden the festival to include neighbouring towns Cookhouse and Pearston. The isiXhosa phrase Amabali ethu (our stories) was chosen as the festival’s name, as it represents the notion that the community- despite its diversity- is one and that all our stories are intertwined. Through song, dance and drama our “our stories” of the past will come to life. Uncovering the hidden gems and providing them a platform to showcase the talent that is nestled at the foot of Boschberg. Local performers, with the help of professional, have developed public art performances, and will perform them in Somerset East in public spaces. These 20-25min performances will be linked to create a ‘festival route’ that the audience will have to follow via procession to the next performance.
Castle Lager East Cape Biltong Festival
Friday 13th July 2012 to Saturday 14th July 2012 First staged in 1991, this feast of entertainment draws thousands of visitors with its several hundred stalls, numerous South African entertainers and, of course, lots and lots of Biltong! The 2012 Festival will be the 22nd one staged, and will take place in Somerset East on 13th and 14th July. Enquiries Marette 042 243 6484/082 878 6749; Ros Turner 042 243 1448 (Tourism) |
EVENT CALENDAR
WE HAVE MOVED The Tourist information office has moved! The Tourist Information Office has moved to the Walter Battiss Art Museum, 45 Paulet Street, Somerset East. Come and visit! Please note that the new details for the Tourist Information Office are: Tel 042 243 1448 E-mail: bluecranetourism@gmail.com Visit the Walter Battiss Art Museum in Somerset East, featuring his private collection. HOURS - 8.30 UNTIL 13.00 AND 14.00 UNTIL 17.00 WEEKDAYS, SATURDAYS 10.00 UNTIL 12.00 BY APPOINTMENT, BUT SOMETIMES CLOSED DUE TO OTHER COMMITTMENTS - IF YOU ARE PLANNING A VISIT CONTACT US BEFORE THE TIME SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE SOMEBODY IS AVAILABLE TO OPEN THE MUSEUM FOR YOU TO VIEW THE MUSEUM ON WEEKENDS, CONTACT 042 243 1448 / 073 698 6539 PART OF THE COLLECTION HAS BEEN BORROWED FOR A SPECIAL BATTISS EXHIBITION AT THE SUIDOOSTERFEES IN CAPETOWN ON 14TH FEBRUARY - SO SOME OF THE PAINTINGS WILL BE AWAY FOR 2 MONTHS, BUT GAPS HAVE BEEN FILLED BY EXHIBITING OUR COLLECTION OF FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS AND MEMORABILIA. EVEN WITH A SMALLER BATTISS COLLECTION ON VIEW, WE ARE SURE THAT THE WALTER BATTISS ART MUSEUM IS STILL BE A WORTHWHILE PLACE TO VISIT AND LEARN ABOUT THE LIFE AND WORK OF THIS GRAND OLD MAN OF SOUTH AFRICAN ART, IN HIS HOMETOWN, 30 YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH IN 1982 Visit Glen Avon Falls. The falls are located just outside Somerset East. A short drive and walk will reward you ..... Click for more information |
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