There’s something different about staying in a place that has welcomed people for centuries.
Guests arrive at Oude Werf from Church Street, settle into their rooms and step out into the centre of Stellenbosch. Breakfast is served beneath the vines, and days begin with plans for wine tastings, gallery visits, long lunches or simply wandering wherever the town leads.
What many guests don’t realise is that beneath the restaurant floor lie the foundations of the first church built on this site.
Oude Werf has always been a place to ‘kuier’
Before there were guest rooms, courtyards or restaurants, people came here for much the same reason they do today: to gather, connect and share stories.
In 1686, a modest church was established on this ground at the request of Governor Simon van der Stel and Reverend Johannes Overneij. Farmers arrived by wagon, families gathered for worship, and news and goods were exchanged before the journey home.
The road leading to these grounds would eventually become Church Street, a part of Stellenbosch that has brought people together for more than three centuries.
In 1710, a fire swept through Stellenbosch, destroying the church. In 1802, the Wium family opened an inn here. Despite another fire the following year, Oude Werf was rebuilt, eventually becoming South Africa’s oldest running hotel.
A place people once travelled to by wagon had become somewhere travellers could stay.
History beneath your feet
Today, Oude Werf wears its history lightly.
Part of the original cobbled church structure remains preserved beneath the hotel, alongside deconsecrated graves. Original doors, ceilings and charred timber from a later fire sit alongside contemporary additions.
You don’t need to be a history enthusiast to appreciate it. The past is simply part of the stay.
It’s there as you move between your room and the courtyard, sit down to breakfast or step out onto Church Street. The building has lived many lives before yours, yet it continues to do what it has always done: welcome people in.
Step outside and Stellenbosch is already there
One of the pleasures of staying at Oude Werf is how easily the town becomes part of your stay.
Historic buildings, galleries and boutiques sit beside cafés, restaurants and wine bars beneath ancient oak trees. Guest Relations Manager Derrick Festus describes the atmosphere as ‘almost like a European vibe, especially in summer‘.
Leave the car behind and explore on foot. Start with coffee, wander through a gallery, linger over lunch, stop for wine and let the day unfold.
Dinner can stretch a little later. A walk beneath the oaks can take the long way back. When you’re ready to call it a night, Oude Werf is right there.
Your room gives you the freedom to explore Stellenbosch at your own pace and return when the mood takes you.
A place to return to
Centuries have passed, but the rhythm of this corner of Stellenbosch feels familiar.
People still arrive. They gather around tables, exchange stories, explore the streets and eventually make their way back.
Only now, beyond the courtyard and behind historic walls, there’s a room waiting.
Perhaps that’s what makes a stay at Oude Werf feel different. You’re not simply sleeping in the centre of Stellenbosch. You’re staying in a place that has been part of its story from almost the beginning.
And for a night or two, you become part of it too.
Become part of the story. Discover the special offers at Oude Werf.
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Picture: Supplied.
This article was produced in partnership with Oude Werf.
