Bredasdorp

Bredasdorp is a small Overberg town located in the Western Cape Province in South Africa. It was established around a Dutch Reformed Church in 1838 and is still strongly founded in its agricultural roots. The town was named after Cape Town's first major, Michiel van Breda, also known as the father of South Africa’s merino sheep industry. Van Breda and Pieter Voltelyn van der Byl, could not agree where the church should be built. As a result two churches were built, and two towns, Bredasdorp and Napier, were established. Besides the sheep farming, the town also boasts other agricultural activities, including wheat, milk, and indigenous fynbos cultivation. The town is also the location of the offices of Kapula Candles, a international candle company that exports to Europe and the United States.

urrounding towns in the Overberg region include

* Arniston, South Africa, 24km
* L'Agulhas, 34km (Southernmost Town in Africa)
* Napier, 14km
* Caledon, 74km
* Swellendam, 69km

Trivia

* Bredasdorp is the first town in South Africa which received the suffix of "dorp", Afrikaans for "small town" - compare 'thorp' English.
* The Overberg District Council's Head Office is located in Bredasdorp.
* The Foot of Africa Marathon is (in)famous for being the toughest marathon in South Africa. The event takes place every year in early October and the town turns into a busy hive of activity.
* The town has an excellent museum dedicated to the shipwreck of the Arnison, which is well worth a visit.
* The Merino Statue, located at the entrance to the Bredasdorp/Napier Co-operative, was erected in honour of the merino sheep which brought fame to this area, due to careful breeding by Michiel van Breda on his historic farm, Zoetendals Vallei, early in the 1900s.
* Audrey Blignault Room: Furnished in honour of Audrey Blignault who was born in Bredasdorp and who enjoys national recognition as a writer.
* The Heuningberg Nature Reserve is open to the public and amazing views can be enjoyed of this rich fauna and flora area.
* The Test Flight and Development Centre SAAF and the Overberg Test Range are situated close to town (approx. 20km).

External links

* [http://www.suidpunttourism.co.za Local tourism site]
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=South+Africa&t=k&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=-34.533288,20.044212&spn=0.031182,0.058365&z=14&om=1 Satellite view of Bredasdorp]