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Upon reaching Franschhoek, the former 1694 French Hugenot settlement and in order to understand the role played by those French settlers we visited the Hugenot Memorial Museum, which celebrates their heritage. It is said that around 270 Hugenots fled into this area from France when King Louis XIV revoked the edict of Nantes dated from 1598 and thus permitting freedom of worship to Protestants. The Museum is excellent in regards to providing thorough information, artifacts and documentation on the life of those settlers which are housed in one main gallery and in an anex unit just across from it.
Just around the corner from the Museum stood the Hugenot Monument. We could clearly see the semicircular colonnade and its three arches representing the Holly Trinity and the figure of the woman standing on a globe with her feet on France.
We had the whole afternoon to stroll around the city, which was rather unique with its posh boutiques and Cafés. The sole hindrance to exploring the main parallel streets filled with unique architectural features was the fact that it was particualrly hot forcing us to sit here and there until we were able to find some shade.
By late afternoon we finally made it to the Ermitage Hotel, which was without any doubt the most sophesticated, luxurious and elegant hotel I have ever stayed at.. The suite I stayed at was almost the size of my home though it was clearly opulent with two huge double bedroom suites and even a private pool overlooking the lake. No adjectives can describe the feeling I had as I walked into what was to become my next 18 hour accommodation.
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