With a glorious historical heritage dating back to 1692, located in the heart of the winelands in the Drakenstein Valley between Franschhoek and Paarl, sits Babylonstoren. This restored Cape Dutch farm, with whitewashed walls, thatch, historic gates and traditional courtyard, attracts the more experiential traveller, with its holistic ethos having little to do with wine tasting, and much more to do with soothing the soul, healing the mind and feeding the senses. Here the simple pleasures of farm life are celebrated with designer chic layered through and through. The interiors of the property – 13 restored labourer’s cottages – host an elegant mix of antique and designer pieces. The French designed kitchen gardens feature traditional hanging gardens, chamomile lawns, a walled bee garden, surprise stepping-stone fountains, and even outsize bird nests to retreat to. Guests can explore the estate’s many delights with a wide range of things to do, from guided walks and hikes, cycling, canoeing and swimming in the reservoir-style pool, to luxuriating with ancient cleansing treatments in the marble hammam in the spa. A guided cellar tour introduces the winemaking process from beginning to end, with hosted tastings, while a meal in the cow shed, now the award-winning restaurant Babel, serves up seasonal, mouth-watering and creative plates using freshly picked ingredients from the garden.
