About
The history of Cape Vue Country House
A bit about us
Formerly the Cape Vue Guesthouse, and now magnificently styled as a country house with a complete renovation of the existing facilities, Cape Vue offers guests all the best that Franschhoek has to offer: location, luxury and lots to enjoy from food to festivals, farms and fine art.
Basil and his wife, Sue are your hosts at Cape Vue Country House, and are available to service your needs at any time of the day or night.
We’re a small team but just give us a little notice and we can probably sort anything out (except future presidents.)
With a focus on service, the hotel welcomes guests as soon as they enter the driveway. An honesty bar is open 24 hours for your enjoyment, and if the weather is behaving, an outdoor, heated swimming pool ensures the ultimate holiday repose. Surrounded by chic pale marble tiles and equipped with loungers, umbrellas and inviting built-in seating, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more sophisticated setting from which to enjoy the natural beauty of the Cape.
At Cape Vue Country House, our aim is eco-friendly self-sufficiency. Solar power is used extensively and will be extended to cover all our power needs. Most of our water requirements are covered by supplies from our reservoir and borehole. A second reservoir will be built on the property and we have plans to extend our facilities to capture rainfall water.
How it all started
1978
Michael and Grace Buchanan-Clarke move to Franschhoek from Kwa-Zulu Natal and purchase a large tract of Bo LaMotte land. Over the years they sold off some of the land but kept 8.2 hectares at the bottom of Middagkrans Road, perfectly situated alongside the Huguenot Memorial Monument about 300 meters from the town’s bustling the main road.
2003
Michael and Grace open the six-bedroom Cape Vernacular Cape Vue Guesthouse. They also plant about 4 hectares of vines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc which are now over 19 years old and well-established, offering guests a fascinating insight into the origins of some of their favourite wines.
2017
Michael and Grace retire and sell Cape Vue which has been completely transformed from the Cape Vue B&B into Cape Vue Country House.
