Babylonstoren

babylonstoren garden tour

  • See all photos

babylonstoren garden tour

1 day Winelands Explore of Stellenbosch Franschhoek Paarl Regions

babylonstoren garden tour

Private Wine tasting Cape Town Wineries Stellenbosch Franschoek Paarl full Day

babylonstoren garden tour

Robben Island Prison Museum + Stellenbosch Wineries Including Ferry Ticket F/D

babylonstoren garden tour

Customized Cape Winelands Tour

babylonstoren garden tour

4 Days Cape Town Adventure

babylonstoren garden tour

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

ShaunBergoff

Babylonstoren - What to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Babylonstoren Garden Tour

Activities, tours.

babylonstoren garden tour

Babylonstoren, Klapmuts – Simondium Road, Simondium, South Africa – read more

START EXPLORING FRANSCHHOEK

Love our content, get a monthly dose of franschhoek in your inbox, franschhoek wine valley exists to:.

Develop and implement marketing plans to profile the Franschhoek Wine Valley

Arrange and advertise events that support the Franschhoek Wine Valley brand image and which encourage visitors to the Valley

Represent the business interests of our members to the Stellenbosch Municipality

Aggregate the combined buying power of our members to leverage economy of scale benefits from service providers

Coordinate free advisory services and discussion forums to support our member’s businesses

OUR ACCOLADES

TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards 2020 – Top 25 Emerging Worldwide Destinations (15th position).

Tripadvisor Traveller’s Choice Destination Winner 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015

Most Memorable Wine Route 2014, 2013 & 2012

Service Excellence Award – 2015

Best Tourism Event 2015 – Franschhoek Bastille Festival

Best Local Tourism Authority Information service 2013 & 2012

TOURISM LEVY

Certain establishments in Franschhoek may levy visitors with voluntary contributions towards the running of the FWV and to support local charities. Should visitors not wish to contribute to these causes, please indicate this to the relevant merchant.

Maintenance & validity of all business operating permits, licences and registration certificates are the responsibility of the business owner. Franschhoek Wine Valley takes no responsibility for the renewal of the required legal business operating documentation

Franschhoek Wine Valley

Physical Address 66B Huguenot Road R45 Franschhoek 7690

Office hours Monday to Friday: 08h00 – 17h00 Saturday: 09h00 – 16h00 Sunday: 09h00 – 14h00

Contact Details +27(0) 66 224 6360 [email protected]

FRANSCHHOEK.ORG.ZA

Franschhoek official tourism website

babylonstoren garden tour

Great Gardens of the World

©Courtesy Babylonstoren

greatgardens-logo-divider

Babylonstoren

With the Simonsberg, Du Toitskloof and Franschhoek mountains as backdrop, Babylonstoren in the Drakentein Valley of South Africa sits at the heart of the Cape Winelands. This restored Cape Dutch farm dates back to 1692.  It’s renowned  for its magnificent 3,5 hectares  garden with pergolas, gravel pathways and water canals. The design was inspired by the historic Company’s Garden in Cape Town, which for centuries supplied ships sailing between Europe and Asia with vegetables and fruit.   It also makes a playful nod to the mythological Hanging Gardens of Babylon.  Those were (possibly erroneously) thought to have been created by Nebuchadnezzar in the sixth century BC, for his wife who longed for the mountains and valleys of her youth. 

In 2007, owner Karen Roos commissioned French garden architect Patrice Taravella to plan the layout. At Prieuré Notre Dame d’Orsan near Bourges Patrice had reconstructed a medieval cloistered garden on the site of a restored 12th-century monastery. Karen was drawn to Patrice’s inherent discipline: “It’s Cartesian, in the tradition of classical French gardens. And Patrice understands the movement of people remarkably well: how to make a garden hold you and calm you down.”  During 2009 the soil was improved and most of the planting done.  Babylonstoren opened its doors to the public in November 2010.  The garden divides into 15 sections that include vegetable patches, orchards of fruit,  nuts, fragrant indigenous plants, ducks and chickens, bees for pollinating, a prickly pear maze to wander through and a palette of trees of historical or botanical significance. Gravity feeds water from a stream via rills into the garden, flowing through ponds planted with edible lotus, nymphaea lilies and waterblommetjies (a local winter flowering water plant beloved in stews and salads). There’s a Healing Garden with species said to cure an array of ailments (not all medically guaranteed, like those for a pining heart!).  Also human sized, woven ‘nests’ from whence to view birdlife.  Then a splendid succulent collection and the Spice Garden – which tells the story of the spice trade with the East, and exhibits the main spices. Along the edge of the garden, a natural stream flows from the Simonsberg mountain to the Berg River.  In the shade of wild olives a collection of some 7000 Clivia lilies bloom spectacularly every spring. In early summer the chamomile lawn becomes a soft and aromatic carpet, while 41 rose towers are covered with fragrant heritage varieties. Diversity is a trademark of the garden, which is the only Royal Horticultural Society Partner in Africa. It features over 300 varieties of trees alone, thousands of plant species.  Curiously, everything planted in the formal section has edible or has medicinal value. 

Babylonstoren  Babylonstoren Farm Klapmuts/Simondium Road Franschhoek Western Cape 7670

South Africa

Please visit website for further details

Start typing and press enter to search

babylonstoren garden tour

CapeTown ETC

CAPE TOWN FOR CAPETONIANS

Cape Town Property for sale or rent on capetownetc.com

Babylonstoren: A Boland paradise waiting to be explored

Babylonstoren: A Boland paradise waiting to be explored

When you hear ‘Babylonstoren’, your mind might not instantly leap to a vineyard. Indeed, the name, echoing the ancient city from the biblical era, could paint a mental image of a long-lost metropolis where inhabitants strolled in flowing robes, casually enjoying plump grapes. Yet, in reality, Babylonstoren embodies a rich, thriving vineyard, artfully marrying the allure of antiquity with the vibrant charm of viticulture.

However, once you’ve had the chance to visit Babylonstoren, you’ll realize it’s akin to a ‘land of plenty.’ It is a self-sustaining idyllic rural realm in Franschhoek , where visitors come to wander, lodge, dine, don straw hats and linen clothing, and marvel at their surroundings. The entire place is picturesque, and each part of it feels like a fragment from a dream, as this bucolic haven seems too good to be true!

Nestled against the backdrop of the Simonsberg mountains, the historic property hosts – prepare yourself, this list is extensive – a hotel, a vineyard, a spa, a pair of restaurants, a bakery, a vast fruit and vegetable garden, a farm store and a scented room (more on that later), a wine tasting room and museum, and even an entire community that includes a learning center for the children of employees. Surely, we’ve left something out. Of course! The operational farm, replete with donkeys and numerous feathered inhabitants.

Also read : Franschhoek dubbed the ‘Valley Of Dreams’

It’s a lot. So, we’ve broken it down for you in this handy guide to navigating the beauty and bounty of Babylonstoren. 

Babel at Babylonstoren

Babylonstoren - Inside Babel

In the old cow shed, where Babel at Babylonstoren is located, there is a beautiful blend of Cape Dutch architecture and modern glass walls. This makes for a contemporary but character-filled atmosphere where you can indulge in delicious and unusual flavour pairings. The ‘farm-to-fork’ philosophy of the kitchen determines the menu, which is made up of seasonal foods, most of which are freshly picked from the estate’s gardens.

  • Times : Breakfast: Monday to Sunday, 8am to 10am | Lunch: Wednesday to Sunday, 12:30pm to 3:30pm | Dinner: Monday to Sunday, 6pm to 9pm
  • Bookings : Book online (Booking in advance is essential)

The Greenhouse is at the back of the garden, nestled under the leafy canopy of some resident oak trees. It is a great place to stop for a drink or bite to eat after a stroll through the labyrinth-like grounds. The menu features layered sandwiches, salads and pies, plated picnic-style, with fresh, seasonal produce that comes from the garden. If you have space, the fresh-out-the-oven scones are too good to pass up and go down a treat with some honeybush tea.

  • Times : Open daily, 9am to 6pm
  • Bookings : No reservations required. First come, first serve seating.

During the day, the Bakery makes fresh bread for the Farm Shop and on-site restaurants.

Italian-Inspired Dinner at the Bakery

babylonstoren garden tour

The Italian-Inspired Dinner is held at the Bakery and presented family-style, with wooden boards piled with scrumptious foods to share. Add some wine, and you’re living La Dolce Vita. This includes a four-course meal complete with antipasto, homemade pasta and wood-fired pizza. Bookings are essential.

  • Times : Mondays and Fridays, 6pm to 9pm
  • Bookings : Book online .

Carnivore Evening at the Bakery

babylonstoren garden tour

If you’re looking for something that feels more like home, book for the Carnivore Evening. This is a celebration of the real South African braai, with skilled grill masters cooking every cut of farm-reared meat to perfection. You just get to sit back with some good wine, breathe in that unmistakably South African braai smell, and tuck into a five-course meal. Bookings are essential.

  • Times : Wednesdays and Sundays, 6pm to 9pm

Babylonstoren accommodation

Author and Head of Travel at The Telegraph, Claire Irvin, described the hotel at Babylonstoren as life changing. Not many hotels can boast that! The accommodation is divided into different types of stays. You can book a suite in the farmhouse – the estate’s original Cape Dutch building; or opt for more privacy and get your own space at one in the Garden or Fynbos Cottages. If you’re looking for a place to accommodate a big group, the Fynbos Family House sleeps 10 people and provides an exclusive-use holiday home for friends and family to share.

As a guest, you benefit from certain perks included in your stay, namely, a complimentary breakfast spread every morning, access to the many workshops available on the farm, and a host of activities, including rowing on the dam, guided tours of the grounds, morning harvests with the gardeners, bread baking with the bakers, and a wine tasting and a cellar tour. The list goes on.

  • Bookings : [email protected] | [email protected]

The Garden Spa, as with all things at Babylonstoren wine estate, draws inspiration from the surrounding nature and the changing seasons. Nestled within a bamboo forest and interlaced with channels of water, the spa invites you into a state of tranquillity. The facility includes a Turkish bath, a chill room, a hot spa and a gym. There is a whole catalogue of treatments to indulge in: everything from body wraps and restorative facials to massages and nail treatments.

  • Times : Daily, 9am to 5pm
  • Contact : +27 (0)21 300 3929 | [email protected]
  • Bookings : Bookings are essential | Contact the spa to secure your booking

babylonstoren garden tour

You don’t have to go all the way to Franschhoek to shop Babylonstoren’s range of things you don’t really need but definitely want! Of course, there is an online store stocked with all the gorgeous goods. Pantry staples like cordials, preserves and everything else you could possibly desire in your stash of midnight treats. And then there are all the goods that come straight from the farm, like fresh eggs and homemade dairy products, and anything you may need from the butchery, bakery or winery. And if you’re really going to live the dream, have a look at the homeware and body collections, or better yet, the leisurewear! 

Yes, this is all available online, but if you are at the estate, you simply can’t pass up the chance to visit the shop on the farm. If not to be surrounded by beautiful things, then to treat yourself or your favourite friend to something special. The shop is divided into various spaces, such as the Lekker Room, stocked with homemade rusks, roasted nuts, chocolate, and more, and the exquisitely fragranced Scented Room, where you can purchase the farm’s range of bath and body products or even make your own scrub and mask.

Online Shop

  • Times : Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
  • Contact : +27 (0)21 300 3919 | [email protected]
  • Times : Daily, 9am to 5:30pm

Wine Tasting

babylonstoren garden tour

You can’t go to a wine farm without tasting the wines – that would be silly. It’s incumbent upon you to visit the Tasting Room, which is tastefully designed and boasts views of the Babylonstoren Hill and the Simonsberg and Banghoek Mountains. Babylonstoren wine estate’s vineyard produces a full collection of varietals. There are elegant whites, a playful rose, smooth reds and even a bottle of bubbles to sample. The best part is, there are platters too! The Tasting Room offers various themed platters, like charcuterie, fish or harvest, which all come with freshly baked artisan bread, the farm’s award-winning olive oil, and a serving of crisp vegetables and juicy fruit plucked from the gardens.

  • Cost : R90 per person for seven wines and flagship wines can be added at an extra cost | R50 per person for an express tasting
  • Bookings : First come, first serve.

Cellar Tour

If you’re into the stories behind the bottles and the work that goes into making the loveable liquid, take a tour of the cellar , which includes a tasting of all 13 of the estate’s wines and some perfectly paired snacks. The tour begins among the vines, takes you through the underground wine tunnel to learn about the winemaking process, and ends with a tasting. 

  • Times: Daily at 10am, 1pm, 4pm
  • Cost : R325 per person (includes tasting and snacks). Payment is required to secure booking.
  • Bookings : Book here .

Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar Tour

babylonstoren garden tour

Their extra virgin olive oil is an award-winning blend of five olive varietals, all grown on the farm, of course. It also comes in a beautiful, rustic-style tin that looks great on a table or kitchen counter. The folk at Babylonstoren call it ‘liquid gold’, which makes you wonder, ‘what’s the secret behind this slippery sauce?’ Go on a tour to find out.

The Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar Tour begins with a stop at the balsamic vinegar cellar (because if you’re going to make olive oil, you have to include its best bud). Here, you’ll learn about the production methods and try the farm’s two types of vinegar. Then you get to see how the table olives are made and how they taste, after which you’ll be shown how they are pressed into olive oil. Then, finally, you get to sample the acclaimed ‘liquid gold’. And just for fun, you are invited to create your own 100ml blend of olive oil to take home. Pretty cool.

  • Times : 11am, 1pm,  3pm (duration 60 min)
  • Cost : R200 per person (includes tasting). Payment required to secure booking. 
  • Bookings : Book online . Maximum 6 guests.

Babylonstoren Garden

babylonstoren garden tour

Perhaps ‘garden’ is not the best word to describe 8 acres of bountiful natural beauty. There’s clearly something in the soil because everything that comes out of the ground sprouts into something spectacularly verdant. And you know it’s not just any garden when it has its own map. You can make a day of wandering the grounds. A kind of Versailles characterised by its symmetrical layout of geometric plots of greenery, animated by ponds, bridges, living arches and unexpected decorative features. Everything works in harmony to support the thriving ecosystem. The ducks eat the snails to protect the vegetables and the chickens’ poop makes great compost. There’s also a beehive, an insect hotel, a prickly pear maze and a healing garden – this stuff can’t be made up.

To explore the sheer expanse of the garden, there is a Daily Garden Tour that starts in front of the Farm Shop and a Special Collections Tour led by expert gardeners.

  • Times : Daily, 9am to 5pm, last entry at 4pm | Daily Garden Tour: 10am | Special Collections Tour: Monday to Friday, 11:30am
  • Cost : An entrance fee is required for access to the garden. Payable at the ticket office.
  • Bookings : Booking for the tours can be made online .

babylonstoren garden tour

If you’re really looking to earn your stripes as a certified Babylonstorian, there are workshops that will teach you everything you could possibly want to know, like botanical sketching, vine weaving and soap crafting. The team and specialists from various fields run the workshops. You will get to try out the skills, techniques, or disciplines that the Babylonstorians are learning about. They tend to be all-day affairs that start with a walk in the garden and include a farm-style lunch. If you’re a guest at the hotel, these workshops are included in your stay. To see what’s on offer and make a booking, click here . 

  • Location : Babylonstoren, Klapmuts Simondium Road, Simondium, 7670
  • Cost: R100 per adult | Free (children under 18 years) | Free (RHS members only)
  • Good to know :  A once-off entrance fee allows you to register for Babylonstoren Garden Membership with the free Babylonstoren app. This will give you unlimited admission to Babylonstoren for 12 months.
  • Contact : +27 (0)21 863 3852 | [email protected]  
  • Website : babylonstoren.com

Also read :

Exploring the ‘French Corner’: 4 Things to do in Franschhoek

Picture : Babylonstoren

Article written by Kate Walker

babylonstoren garden tour

CapeTownETC

Subscribe to our Newsletter cheap cars for sale cheap cars for sale in western cape cheap cars for sale in cape town Joburg news News in Johannesburg Bikes for sale

babylonstoren garden tour

Type and press Enter.

Why you should visit the Babylonstoren Garden.

Purple lavender field with mountains in the background at Babylonstoren Garden

The other day my friend Carolyn was in town and since she is as keen on grapes as I am we decided to head to Stellenbosch and visit the Babylonstoren garden. I chose this location for a good reason because while there is no shortcoming of great places for a Stellenbosch wine tour or wine farms in Paarl, which is just around the corner, Babylonstoren is special.

Finding paradise at the Bablyonstoren Garden

Green enclosure for animals at Babylonstoren Garden

To give you a little background, Babylonstoren is not just any other wine farm nor just another Stellenbosch/Paarl accommodation. They are mainly known for their beautiful Babylonstoren garden from which the name derives. 

The garden is a reference and an homage to Cape Town’s famous Company’s Garden and the mysterious hanging gardens of Babylon. You  can read all about it here  if you care but I think better yet – come for a visit to the Babylonstoren wine estate.

Annika Ziehen standing under a green arch with pumpkins at Babylonstoren Garden

I recommend you start your excursion with a visit to their amazing Babylonstoren restaurant, aptly named Babel. Carolyn and I couldn’t get a reservation but got lucky as someone had canceled – it is always worth asking and if they can’t help you with a table at Babel they have a few other dining options on the farm.

Babel restaurant with signage at Babylonstoren Garden

I am not sure if Babel was the first who brought farm-to-table dining to South Africa but they are one of the restaurants who does it best. All of their fruit and vegetable come directly from the Babylonstoren garden and dishes are made out of what is in season. They even theme there menu around certain fruits or veggies which was plums when we visited. We not only had plums on most of our dishes but were also given an information page which was all about plums.

Waiter holding a wooden block with cut up plums at Babel restaurant

My favorites are their starters which are color coordinated and you have a choice between red, yellow and green. What I like, as will vegetarians, all starters are first and foremost vegetarian. For an extra amount, you can add a recommended protein but the basis is vegetarian. They are also bridging the gap quite seamlessly between fruits and vegetable and so I had a beautiful buffalo mozzarella on my plate that not only came with some fresh tomatoes but also berries and of course, plums.

Desert with a white rose and menu at Babel restaurant

Babel is also one of those restaurants where you must have dessert. They are always amazing, not too sweet (they usually come with a little herbaceousness), and are always really pretty – in my case decorated with flowers from the garden.

Path through Babylonstoren Garden with mountains in the distance

Even if you come for lunch, entrance to the farm will cost you R 10. I think this fee is to cover all the daytrippers who come to stroll in the gardens and is money well spent. The Babylonstoren garden is simply stunning and you may even forget that you are on a working farm. Fruit trees and vegetable patches meet lavender fields and picturesque fountains. Make sure to wear flat shoes because while you will definitely want to snap one for your Instagram here, the paths are lined with crushed fruit pits and walking in heels is no fun.

Greenhouse with pots and hanging plants at Babylonstoren GArden

A highlight is the Babylonstoren glasshouse in the back of the garden which has a cafe next to it and sometimes (unfortunately not when we were there) sells amazing ice lollies. They also have a few farm stalls and a lovely boutique where you can make your own soaps and lotions, and for kids, big and small, there are plenty of farm animals to admire. Just beware of the donkeys – I do have photographic evidence that they like to eat scarves!

Antique drawers with pot plants at a shop at Babylonstoren

What is so special about Babylonstoren is not only the overall concept but also their design. Most wine farms in Stellenbosch kind of look the same: Dutch manor houses and sweeping views of the vineyard that you often don’t get to enjoy during your wine tasting since it is done in the cellars. Don’t get me wrong, most of these houses are absolutely beautiful but Babylonstoren has given everything a modern twist. From glass walls to cool crookery, they have integrated the historic Cape Dutch houses into the 21st century.

Vineyard at Babylonstoren

The same holds true for the Babylonstoren wine tasting. As I said many places for wine tasting in Stellenbosch either offer a tasting in their cellar where you sit far away from the beautiful scenery or have a terrace where you sit in the sweltering heat (the area gets steamy). Babylonstoren offers you a climatized glass cube for wine tasting where you can enjoy cool-ish temperatures and an amazing view of the surrounding vineyards and the garden.

Glass wine tasting room with vineyards around at Babylonstoren

The Babylonstoren wine range offers something for everyone from a fruity Viognier to a lovely Shiraz and they also have their own MCC (Methode Cap Classique – the South African name for our local champagne). You can try some of their flagship wines at an additional price and they also offer an express tasting with fewer glasses – especially if you have a few tasting stops on your agenda.

To be very honest, most of the Babylonstoren wines are not my favorite and except for the Viognier, I find them too expensive. But that is just me and as I said before – I am no expert, just someone who likes to drink wine. I think the incredible and unique setting makes more than up for it. 

Glass of Rose on a menu for wine tasting at Babylonstoren

Babylonstoren, South Africa also offers accommodation which I am dying to book – if only for their farm-to-table breakfast and to see what their linens look like. My friend recently went to the Babylonstoren spa and loved it, also mentioning that their prices were incredibly moderate for the service offered. While the rooms at Babylonstoren are definitely on the pricier side I do think they are worth saving up for. 

Babylonstoren offers daily wine tasting while Babel restaurant serves lunch Wednesdays to Sundays. 

Pin for later! 

Pin for Babylonstoren Garden

Sharing is caring!

Looking for the best Maldives overwater bungalow? Read on what it is all about to stay at Soneva Jani, sleep at a water villa with your own slide & retractable roof to fall asleep under the stars.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

I went the first time two weeks ago after I had to see myself what all the instagram influencers were fussing about. And I LOVED it! The gardens are beautiful and oh.my.god. their platter we had with the wine tasting was just beyond delicious!!

Haha and for a change they were fussing for a reason 😉 Yes, I think that place is worth all the hype – it is beautiful and a very unique concept!

The Midnight Blue Elephant

  • Privacy Overview
  • Strictly Necessary Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

You can adjust all of your cookie settings by navigating the tabs on the left hand side.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

Pick your preferred language

Welcome to LekkeSlaap!

Babylonstoren garden tours.

babylonstoren garden tour

Description

Babylonstoren is a Cape Dutch farm that lies just outside of Franschhoek in the Western Cape. With 8 acres of fruit and vegetables gardens home to over 300 varieties of plants, all of which are edible, the garden it definitely a must visit for food lovers.

The garden was inspired by the 17th and 18th century Company Gardens of the Ditch East India Company, along with the mythical gardens of Babylon. It is divided into 15 clusters, incorporating vegetable areas, berries, bees, indigenous plants, ducks and chickens, and a prickly pear maze. Gravity feeds water into waterways from a stream into the garden as it was done for 300 years. Delicious fruit and vegetables are harvested year round for daily use in the farm’s restaurant.

Visitors can enjoy scenic walks over 3km through the garden, as well as guided tours. Don’t miss the Green House, Farm Shop, and Babel Restaurant where you can enjoy tea and a variety of foods, paired with fresh greens harvested from the garden. Please note that no dogs are allowed into the garden.

Nearby Attractions

Backsberg Estate Cellars

Backsberg Estate Cellars

1 km away - Boland

Lust Bistro & Bakery

Lust Bistro & Bakery

3 km away - Boland

Plaisir De Merle Wine Estate

Plaisir De Merle Wine Estate

You may also be interested in browsing our selection of accommodation in Paarl or reading about Paarl

5 reasons you need to visit Babylonstoren in South Africa

I’m not going to lie , one of the biggest things I was looking forward to about my trip to South Africa was drinking wine and chilling out on a wine farm. South Africa is renowned on an international scale for the wines it produces thanks to its temperate climate and toasty summers. I’m a simple girl, what can I say?

Luckily when I was researching Franschhoek before coming to South Africa, I found out about Babylonstoren , one of the biggest and most beautiful wine farms in the entire region. Their website has some killer drone footage and I was blown away by how gorgeous it is!

Some links in this post are to affiliate sites. If you purchase something through them, I may earn a small comission — which costs you nothing! I am very grateful when you use my links to make a purchase.

Even though I could not afford to stay at Babylonstoren as a hotel guest (prices start at $500 PER NIGHT 😱), I still got to experience the property in a ton of different ways: from their free garden tour, to their fabulous restaurant, expansive gardens and vineyards, and tons of places to buy gifts for friends back home.

That said, if you’re spendy and fancy and want to stay at the neatest wine farm in the Cape Winelands, do have at it.

Check availability of Babylonstoren

If you’re a pleb like me, you can still visit as a day guest. Read on for my top 5 reasons to visit Babylonstoren during your trip to South Africa!

Free daily garden tour

It takes just a second to register online to join a free daily garden tour at Babylonstoren. These tours start every day at 10:00 AM, and are guided by one of the employees who works at the garden. You’ll learn the history of the farm itself, the history of the region, and TONS of things about all the different plants and animals that the wine farm is home to.

NOTE – Even though the tour is free, entry to the wine farm itself costs R10 on weekdays, and R20 on weekends and holidays.

The tour starts daily (rain or shine!) at the Farm Shop, one of the main places you can buy gifts on the farm. Most likely there will be some roosters or turkeys chilling out by the entrance and making their typical “Cock-a-doodle-doo” sound. I’m not even if sure if I’d heard that in real life until that point 🤔

You’ll get a map and be able to get an overview of what the wine farm has to offer. The main area of the tour is just a small but beautiful part of the farm – in fact, that farm is much larger but organized in a more utilitarian way.

You’ll walk through fruit trees, gardens full of vegetables, koi ponds, and lovely huts that serve as a trellis for plants with vines. At each of the plants, the guide will tell you about how they cultivate it, the kind of care it needs, whether it’s indigenous to South Africa, and basically anything else you could want to know.

TIP – Book the daily garden tour in advance to be sure you’ll have a spot. Afterwards you can make a reservation at Babel , their ultra-farm-fresh restaurant.

There are also a ton of people employed by the farm to do the farm work. If you are passionate about farming, you can even apply to be a volunteer or apply for a job at the farm. It looks like a ton of physical labor but it’s hard to complain about spending all day in a garden 🍃

This bush was used by sailors to make their hands smell nice after fishing all day, before going home to their wives. You can just rub your hands between its leaves and your fingers will smell like lemons!

Enjoying the photos? Follow along on Instagram!

Follow @notanomadblog for beautiful travel photography and stories of our journeys

Not a Nomad Blog on Instagram

Follow on Instagram

Some fruits will be wrapped in bags or surrounded by glass jars. The bags are meant to save some of the fruit from the birds, who also find it very tasty! Whereas the gas jars allow the fruit to grow inside the jar, and they use it to make spirits from the fermenting fruit.

Depending on the season, you will see different fruits in season on your tour. For that reason, it’s not a bad idea to check in advance that you’ll be visiting during a season where some of the fruits are likely to be harvested. We went in the summer in early December and it was the very beginning of the stone fruit season, though most of the stone fruits (like peaches and plums) weren’t ripe yet.

Besides just being home to lots of fruits and vegetables, Babylonstoren also has its own colony of bees! They produce honey, which you can taste in the on-site restaurant. If you’ve ever wanted to taste the freshest honey possible, this might be the honey for you 🐝

At the end of the tour, you can try a tea brewed using ingredients from the farm. In the Summer they offer an iced tea, and in the Winter a hot tea. It’s the perfect way to refresh yourself after about an hour of walking around in the gardens and probably getting a fair amount of sunshine.

Be sure that if you’re visiting on a hot day, you bring some water to drink and a hat to keep the sun off your face. South Africa has some seriously intense sunshine!

World class restaurant

There’s no better way to end the garden tour than with a lunch in the incredible Babel restaurant. At this restaurant, they practice a “farm to fork” philosophy – meaning, everything on your plate is local, and most of it comes straight from the nearby farm. You’ll be eating seasonal foods which come together in truly interesting combinations.

Start out with a glass of wine and delicious breads and dips. Each of the main courses on the menu comes with a recommended wine (though you can of course decide not to take the suggested one, or not to take wine at all). You’ll find options on the menu that include beef, chicken, pork, fish, or vegetarian. I opted for fish (there is a LOT of great fish in South Africa), while Gernot opted for a full baby chicken (which was HUGE).

Depending on the season, you choose whether you prefer to sit inside or outside. For some reason even though we visited in Summer, it was only possible to sit inside. Luckily there are huge glass windows so we still felt plenty connected to the farm outside.

Before your meal even starts, you’ll be offered some farm-fresh vegetables, plucked from the garden just hours before. A few of these I’d never eaten (or even see) ever before in my life so it was fun to taste them at their very best.

TIP – Book your reservation at Babel at least a month in advance, and if possible, be flexible about the day you go!

Free Cape Town photography guide

Your privacy is important to us. Unsubscribe at anytime.

After that, the main course comes. You can also add starters, but for us it would’ve been way too much food – we struggled to finish just the complimentary bread and our main dishes.

What I thought made the food at Babel so interesting is that it has so many different combinations of flavors that you might not otherwise think to combine yourself. For example, my fish also had strawberries complementing it, along a South African style curry sauce. Who knew these things could taste so delicious together?

Besides your main dishes, you also get a ton of farm-fresh side dishes. We had potatoes, carrots, two kinds of green beans, and fresh zucchini in a cream sauce. You can imagine that since the dishes were already so big, it ended up being a ton of food. Which meant we could just snack for dinner, which is totally fine for me!

TIP – If you’re not able to get a reservation at Babel, you can probably still find a spot at the Greenhouse, a more casual cafe still located on the farm.

Great shops for gifts

It’s pretty amazing – besides being a legit farm that produces tons of fruits and vegetables and wines, Babylonstoren also has a handful of different shops you can visit when you’re there:

The Farm Shop

The scented room, meat and cheese shop.

The Farm Shop is the main gift shop at Babylonstoren, located very close to the main parking area. Here you’ll find a wine variety of things to bring back home – whether for friends or all for yourself. Books and calendars with photos from the farm, sun hats and glassware, fresh jams and preserves, linens and aprons in all kinds of fabrics.

The Scented Room is all about smells – as you might guess from the name 😉 There is a lot of lavendar growing on the farm, so you can find lavendar scented soaps and sprays. I ended up getting a rose face mist – no idea what it is but it smells very nice! Perfect spot to pick up a gift for the lady in your life – or anyone else who enjoys smelling farm fresh in the best possible way 😂

Besides all the things you can buy and bring home, you can also take something tasty with you! The Meat and Cheese shop at Babylonstoren has everything from dried meats to freshly made cheese and dried fruits and nuts. You can buy a lot of things in bulk, or purchase them in a pre-packaged amount. We bought some dried peaches to snack on, and the prices were pretty acceptable. Maybe buy things for a picnic at the next winery you visit?

Beautiful and expansive grounds

Even if the tour only lasts for an hour, you should definitely take the time to explore the farm afterwards. You can take your time, take more photos, and explore little corners you might not have spotted during the tour earlier.

As I said before, the garden area isn’t the only area – if you wander around, you can see that there is a ton of extra space dedicated just to commercial farming. While you can’t access this as a guest, it’s pretty amazing.

Of course, if you stay as a guest at the hotel you’ll have access to a lot more, including a gym, a swimming pool, your fancy yet minimal room, and a $500 per night price tag 😄

There are a few attractions around the garden, such as this “Pumpkin Snail” which is used as a trellis for large squash. Later in the year, you can see the squad dangling from the ceiling of this structure. There is also a huge swing and a walkway that is modeled after a snake. You’ll have to see it for yourself!

TIP – If you want a sneak peak, you can get an idea of what you’ll find on the form by looking at this map of Babylonstoren

Pick and eat any fruit or vegetable you see

Guys, I saved the best for last! And that’s the fact that while you’re visiting the garden, you are encouraged to pick and eat any ripe fruit or vegetables that you find during your tour. That’s why it’s a nice idea to check in advance what produce will be in season when you visit the gardens. As I said, we visited at the beginning of stone fruit season. Unfortunately most of the fruits weren’t ripe yet, but we didn’t mind it was a bit sour.

Of course, there are also some critters walking around the farm, like turtles, turkeys, chickens, and mules. As you can probably ascertain, they are not on the menu 😉

Would you visit Babylonstoren on a trip to South Africa?

Share your thoughts in the comments and let me know what the best winery or wine farm is that you have ever been to!

Save this for your next trip!

Author

About the author

Hi there! I'm Monica, an American expat living in Germany for over six years and using every opportunity to explore the world from my homebase in Berlin. My goal is to capture my memories in photos and posts that show how easy it is to start from scratch and travel the world by working abroad.

Follow along on Instagram , Twitter , Bloglovin , & Facebook .

You might also like...

babylonstoren garden tour

A Super Efficient 2-week South Africa Itinerary

babylonstoren garden tour

20 Easy Tips for Better Safari Photos

babylonstoren garden tour

How to go on an African safari on any budget

babylonstoren garden tour

Hi, I'm Charlotte

Browse the blog.

  • FREE RESOURCES
  • TRAVEL TIPS

CHARLIES WANDERINGS

THE BLOG FOR THE ADVENTUROUS TRAVELER WHO LOVES A TOUCH OF LUXURY NOW AND THEN

babylonstoren garden tour

Accommodation , Africa , BLOG , CAPE WINELANDS , Destinations , South Africa , Travel Guides , Winter Destinations · February 27, 2022

9 Reasons To Visit Babylonstoren In South Africa

Babylonstoren is one of the most spectacular wine farms that you could possibly visit in South Africa ! With the Franschhoek mountains, Simonsberg and Du Toitskloof as a backdrop it offers some of the best views in the entire region.

When first arriving at Babylonstoren I blinked twice cause I could barely believe my eyes. I am sure by now, all of you have heard about Pinterest and know what I mean by a “Pinterest perfect photo”. Well, Babylonstoren took this to a whole new level.  

Every area on this property looks like it came straight of the most beautiful Pinterest board . There are over 300 different plants to be found here and almost all of them are edible or medicinal and it’s even encouraged to pick & eat while visiting! They are grown in a biological sustainable manner and are freshly served at their restaurant Babel and the Greenhouse.  

Sounds pretty good right? Then keep on reading to discover all of the incredible and mostly free things and activities that you can do at Babylonstoren!

9 Reasons To Visit Babylonstoren In South Africa

A little history about Babylonstoren

Let’s start with the name itself. Have you ever wondered where the name Babylonstoren stems from? Well, the koppie (or hill) on the farm made the first owners think about the Tower of Babel , so named it Babylon’s Toren in the 1700’s.

In 1692 , Babylonstoren farm was granted to burgher Pieter van der Byl by the then Governor of the Cape, Simon van der Stel. It was him who planted the first vineyards on the farm and who altered the water courses to provide irrigation.

Some of the farm’s earliest structures from that time remain on the farm today, ss such it is considered to be one of the best preserved farmyards in the Cape today .

When new accommodation was added to create the Farm Hotel, every care was taken to ensure that the integrity of the original architecture were reflected. The result is a modern yet authentic sensibility , that takes the farm firmly into the future.

For the garden at Babylonstoren they also looked to the past for inspiration, taking its cue from the Company’s Garden of Cape Town.

In 2007 , owner Karen Roos reached out to Taravella , and tasked him with creating a completely edible and medicinal garden. And just like in a Wonderland, each tidy square is brimming with curiosities.

babylonstoren garden tour

How to reach Babylonstoren

The Cape Winelands are only 40 minutes driving from Cape Town and Babylonstoren is located in Simondium in Stellenbosch.

If you’re driving from Cape Town you’ll need to take the N1 and take exit 47 – Klapmuts. After about 6km more you’ll arrive at Babylonstoren.

If you’re coming straight from the airport you’ll need to take the N2, but you also take exit 47 – Klapmuts to arrive at your final destination.

If you don’t have a rental car you can always take a local taxi. From Cape Town you should pay around €35 to €50 one way.

From Cape Town you can take a bus which goes to Paarl twice a day and takes about 41 minutes. From Paarl you will then have to take a taxi to reach Babylonstoren.

From Cape Town you have a train which goes straight to Stellenbosch every 2 hours. The train ride takes around 1.5 hour and from Stellenbosch you can then take a taxi to Babylonstoren.

You can join a Private Wine Adventure in Stellenbosch where you can fully customize the wineries that you wish to visit. Pricing starts at €115 and you’ll visit 4 different destinations: 3 different wine farms and one where you can enjoy a lunch. This tour is the perfect choice if you have already figured out which wine farms in Stellenbosch you would like to visit but you don’t want to arrange everything yourself. You can even add an additional 5th destination if you want!

9 Reasons To Visit Babylonstoren In South Africa

When is the best time to visit Babylonstoren

The best time to go wine tasting in Stellenbosch is  between September and March . During this time of the year the temperatures are warm and the weather is dry. Another big advantage is that during these months a lot of  vintage wines get released .

If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Babylonstoren, the  hottest months are January, February, and then December .

The busiest month for tourism in Stellenbosch, South Africa is January, followed by February and November. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance.  Tourists are unlikely to visit Stellenbosch in June . Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it  the least expensive month .

babylonstoren garden tour

9 Reasons why you should visit Babylonstoren

1. you can visit the garden at babylonstoren with a free daily tour.

At Babylonstoren they arrange daily tours that start at 10am and leave from the Farm Shop. One of their experienced gardeners will be your guide on this tour, during which they encourage guests to pick, taste, smell and touch while walking through the garden. 

The tour lasts 1.5 hours and all you need to do is register in advance .

While the garden tour itself is free of charge you do need to pay a small entrance fee to get access to the gardens. But it’s only R20 (€1).

But this once-off entry fee allows you to register for Babylonstoren Garden Membership using the free Candide app . This will give you unlimited admission to Babylonstoren for 12 months. The Membership fee is only R20 (€1) per person.

Activate your annual Babylonstoren Garden Membership on the Candide app using the unique code you receive at the ticket office . Open the app on your next visit to play with Plant ID or listen to guided audio tours of our Garden and Spice Garden.

You can also interact with Babylonstoren gardeners for expert gardening advice and follow Babylonstoren’s profile on the app for daily updates from the garden.

babylonstoren garden tour

2. Everything in the garden of Babylonstoren is either edible or medicinal

The garden holds 15 clusters spanning vegetable areas, stone and pome fruits, nuts, citrus, berries, bees, herbs, ducks and chickens, a prickly pear maze, and more.

Every one of the more than 300 varieties of plants in the garden is edible or has medicinal value . They are also grown as organically as possible and in a biologically sustainable manner.

Along the edge of the garden, a natural stream flows from the Simonsberg Mountain to the Berg River, creating a space for indigenous wild olives to flourish.

Wether you’re visiting with a guided tour or by yourself you are highly encouraged to taste the different fruits as you go.

Unfortunately during our visit we saw a couple of people simply tugging off some of the largest prickly pears, all to take a couple of photos… Please remain respectful during your visit of Babylonstoren and don’t destroy their property.

babylonstoren garden tour

3. Join their Cellar Tour

At Babylonstoren they produce 13 different grape varieties . The Cellar Tour is a walking tour where you’ll learn interesting facts about the farm’s history and wine heritage.

You’ll see examples of different vines and in the production cellar, the entire wine-making process is explained. The tour also includes a visit to the new wine tunnel , offering guests a journey through centuries of making and storing wine.

And after all of this information it’s to go and taste some of the wines! The wine will be served in the wine tunnel and you’ll get an appetizer to compliment each wine to perfection.

Price – R295 (€17)

You need to book your Cellar Tour in advance and you can do so here .

babylonstoren garden tour

4. Create your own scrub or mask in the Scented Room

The Scented Room at Babylonstoren is an aromatic apothecary located at The Barn. It is a magical space filled with vintage pharmacy drawers and an impressive collection of antique glass pharmaceutical bottles that were found on the farm while it was being excavated, created and built.

At Babylonstoren they have created their own biological products which include shampoos, candles, soap and essential oils. But what’s even better is that they’ve created a new and exciting way to offer guests an interactive experience .

The room smells like a mixture of waterblommetjies, roses and fynbo.

Visitors can blend their own bath salts, body scrubs and face masks, under the caring eyes and knowledgeable insights of Babylonstoren-trained assistants who will help them in choosing the correct formula.

I had so much fun experimenting with all of the different ingredients to create my very own face and body scrub. Once you’re done with creating your very own beauty product it will be carefully packaged for you so you can take it home with you.

babylonstoren garden tour

5. Spend the night at the unique Babylonstoren Hotel

If you’re looking for a truly unique experience then you simply have to stay at the Babylonstoren Hotel . Just like with everything else at Babylonstoren the rooms of the hotel are immaculately decorated. Think high ceilings, a roll-top bath, a cosy open fire and a bed that feels like you’re laying on a cloud.

Not a single expense was spared to make guests feel like they’ll never want to leave!

babylonstoren garden tour

6. Enjoy a Farm-to-table lunch in the Cape Winelands

At the rear of the garden, tucked away between the oak trees, the Greenhouse offers guests a wonderful refreshment station after their walk through the garden.

All of the food is served picnic-style in wooden crates with the preserves, jams and salads served in weck jars, while fresh bread from our wood-fired oven come wrapped in the iconic blue-and-white Babylonstoren paper.

No reservation is required – they allocate tables as they become available. There may be a waiting list during very busy times.

Opening hours – Open daily from 10am until 4pm

babylonstoren garden tour

7. Have dinner at Babel

Housed in the old cow shed, Babel Restaurant is a wonderful mix of Cape Dutch architecture and contemporary glass walls that makes for a simple yet edgy environment in which to try tasty yet often unconventional combinations.

They have a farm-to-fork philosophy which means they like to serve food that is seasonal and that reflects the “pick, clean and serve” approach.

Opening hours – Breakfast : Monday to Sunday, 8am until 10am Lunch : Wednesday to Sunday, 12pm until 3.30pm Dinner : Monday to Sunday, 5pm until 9pm

Online bookings for Babel Restaurant open nine months in advance. And yes, you have to be quick cause seats tend to fill up fast!

babylonstoren garden tour

8. Shop for homeware at the Babylonstoren Farm Shop

The Farm Shop is the main gift shop at Babylonstoren and can be found at the entrance of the gardens. It’s the perfect place for souvenir shopping or to buy a beautiful and thoughtful gift for someone else.

Each item is a labour of love that is nurtured by skilled hands and brought to life by the thoughtful selection of materials and ingredients, many of which are created on the farm itself.

Here you’ll find table wear, calendars, coffee table books and much, much more.

babylonstoren garden tour

9. Pamper yourself with a SPA Treatment

Like everything else at Babylonstoren, the Garden Spa is inextricably linked to the garden and the ever-changing seasons. Think of it as a living spa, set within a forest of bamboo with tranquil greenery and a myriad leiwater channels to set the tone.

Housed in a pavilion constructed of bamboo, it comprises a hammam, chill room, hot spa and gym.

babylonstoren garden tour

Charlotte Lint is the founder of Charlies Wanderings. Charlotte has traveled all over the world and is based in Belgium where she also owns her very own dental practice. She is an expert on writing efficient travel guides and finding unique places to stay. Every month she helps over 134.000 people discover the most beautiful places in the world through her detailed travel guides.

You’ll Also Love

The 7 Best Wine Farms In Stellenbosch

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • Free Resources
  • Privacy Policy

Charlies wanderings is a travel blog filled with unique adventures and wonderful storytelling through colorful photos and insightful travel guides.

COPYRIGHT © 2017 - 2022 CHARLIES WANDERINGS

All rights reserved. Photography and written content may not be reproduced without my permission.

Copyright © 2024 CHARLIES WANDERINGS Theme by 17th Avenue

Copyright © 2024 · Charlotte on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

babylonstoren garden tour

  • South Africa
  • Western Cape
  • Franschhoek

Babylonstoren Garden Tours

babylonstoren garden tour

Found just outside Franschhoek, the spectacular gardens at Babylonstoren offer a totally unique experience. This Cape Dutch farm with vineyards and orchards is surrounded by the dramatic mountains of the Drakenstein Valley and its eight acres of fruit and vegetable garden are home to over 300 varieties of plants – all of which are edible.

Inspired by the 17th and 18th century Company Gardens of the Dutch East India Company, as well as the mythical gardens of Babylon, the garden is divided into fifteen clusters spanning vegetable areas, berries, bees, indigenous plants, ducks and chickens and a prickly pear maze. Fruit and vegetables are harvested year round for daily use in the farm’s restaurant.

Beautiful meandering walks span over 3 kilometres in the garden, and during spring 7 000 clivias bloom down by the stream, where a secluded path runs in the shade of wild olives and oaks.

Housed in a converted cowshed with contemporary glass walls – Babel serves food using the farm’s ‘pick, clean and serve’ philosophy. Creative, seasonal and generous meals are Babel’s trademark. Open for breakfast daily from 8h00–9h30, and dinner daily from 19h00. Open for lunch Wednesday to Sunday from 12h00-15h30. Booking is essential. Reservations open two months in advance and can be made between the hours of 8h00 and 17h00 on +27 (0)21 863 3852 or [email protected].

The magnificent Greenhouse tucked away at the rear of the gardens amongst Oak trees is the perfect casual stop-off after exploring the gardens. Serving home-baked cakes, coffee, tea and fresh garden juices, as well as artisanal breads, handcrafted cheeses and meats, served with homemade herb oils, chutneys, preserves and relishes, and fresh garden salads. No reservation needed.

Images of Babylonstoren Garden Tours

babylonstoren garden tour

Map of Babylonstoren Garden Tours

Accommodation nearby babylonstoren garden tours, {{est.name}}.

African Wildlife Safaris Logo

Babylonstoren

Less than 45 minutes’ drive from Cape Town lies Babylonstoren, one of the oldest and best preserved 17th century Cape Dutch farms.

Less than 45 minutes’ drive from Cape Town lies Babylonstoren, one of the oldest and best preserved 17th century Cape Dutch farms. The magnificent fruit and vegetable garden spans over 3.5 hectares and has incredible vistas of the surrounding mountains. There are a variety of accommodation options across the property including: a farmhouse suite, six cottages (including two 2-bredoom cottages) and the iconic Manor House that sleeps up to 10 guests in 5 lovely rooms.

The Farmhouse combines authentic architecture with modern design, whilst there is also a beautiful library that houses a rare collection of butterflies. The farm hotel is characterised by thick whitewashed walls and hearty fireplaces that emulate an authentic farm-stay experience. A botanical theme comes across in all the rooms and features four-poster beds, dusted moss walls and ensuite bathrooms.

There are also two excellent restaurants on the property with a ‘farm-to-fork’ philosophy. Babel Restaurant serves delicious seasonal food whilst The Greenhouse serves tea and light lunches during the day. The hotel also has a spa and gym on site, whilst an array of activities are offered including rowing, fishing, cycling, farm activities, cellar tours and wine tastings and garden tours.

babylonstoren garden tour

How to get to Babylonstoren

Babylonstoren is easily accessible by car and is just 45 minutes’ drive from Cape Town.

Activities at Babylonstoren

  • Cellar tours and wine tasting
  • Farm activities
  • Scenic mountain drives
  • Spa treatments

*Some activities are available at extra cost.

Babylonstoren Highlights

  • An elegant boutique 17 th century farmhouse brimming with country charm
  • Located in the picturesque Cape Winelands region
  • Sumptuous accommodation nearby to some of South Africa’s finest restaurants and wineries

Find out more about our tailor made African safaris. Get in touch with one of our Destination Specialists.

Subscribe below to keep up to date, find out more about our tailor made african safaris, accommodation in the kruger, sabi sands and surrounding regions..

Below are some of our preferred tented camps and lodges in the Kruger, Sabi Sands and surrounding regions. Please contact us to tailor accommodation options to suit the style of your trip and your budget.

Delaire Graff Lodges & Spa

At the edge of charming Stellenbosch in the Cape Winelands, Delaire Graff Lodges & Spa offers the ultimate in luxury accommodation and fine dining.

Franschhoek Country House and Villas

Just outside of Franschhoek village lies a lovely original homestead with many decorative accents that allude to the property’s rich history. Innovative regional cuisine awaits you at the

Grand Roche Hotel

A member of the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the World consortium, the Grand Roche Hotel in Paarl is filled with character.

Grootbos Private Nature Reserve

Overlooking Walker Bay on South Africa's Western Cape, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve is an oasis of luxury set amid unique native wilderness - a magnet for rare birds.

Lanzerac Hotel and Spa

The iconic Lanzerac Hotel and Spa is one of the region’s grandest examples of Cape Dutch architecture, constructed in 1692.

Le Quartier Francais

Set in the peaceful village of Franschhoek, Le Quartier Francais invites visitors to indulge in absolute luxury and sumptuous cuisine.

Leeu Estates

Leeu Estates is a 17-room country house and boutique winery in the Frankshoek Valley and is the flagship property of Leeu Collection

Elegant Leeu House is an enchanting combination of casual country living and world-class luxury set in the charming, historic village of Franschhoek.

South Africa Itineraries

The following tours are private, independent and can be easily customised to suit your personal travelling requirements. Please contact us to begin designing your personalised South Africa experience.

More of South Africa

E-newsletter.

Sign up to receive updates about exciting journeys, special offers and more

  • About our Hotel
  • Garden Cottages
  • Fynbos Cottages
  • Manor House
  • Things to do

Restaurants

  • Tea Ceremony
  • Visit our Garden
  • About our Garden
  • Internships & Volunteers
  • Garden Videos
  • Tasting & Cellar
  • Garden Tour
  • Cellar Tour
  • Online Shop
  • Event Spaces
  • Location Productions
  • Contact Details
  • Visitor Information
  • Map & Directions

Babylonstoren’s cellar tour goes underground

October 16th, 2020

It’s not only bulbs and the roots of crops and fruit orchards that flourish in Babylonstoren’s soil – an underground wine tunnel is a welcome new addition to the farm’s winery.

babylonstoren-cellar-tour-wine-winemaking-wine-tunnel-capewinelands

While the vineyards on this historic Cape Dutch working farm in the heart of South Africa’s winelands have enjoyed a well-deserved rest these last few months, a team has been hard at work underground. They have been putting the final touches on a brand-new treasure chest waiting to be discovered underneath Babylonstoren’s soil.

An atmospheric, subterranean wine tunnel connects the wine production cellar with the underground barrel cellar. It features a design that seeks to marry a number of requirements, including additional wine processing space for the rapidly growing Babylonstoren wine offering, as well as the opportunity to present a unique and more immersive experience to anyone visiting the facility.

babylonstoren-cellar-tour-wine-winemaking-wine-tunnel-cape-winelands

The interior employs a palette of materials chosen to accentuate the smells and sights associated with winemaking.

An undulating roof creates an attractive visual axis down the tunnel – an aesthetically pleasing solution that allows the partially underground tunnel to support a heavy load, accommodating the vineyard that will be planted above.

Skylights direct pools of natural daylight into the otherwise moody interior. Exposed brickwork and cabling, wooden furniture and concrete floors reinforce an unpretentious tone that adds to the charm of this appealing space.

The same structural steel frames used in the original underground barrel cellar have been employed for the new stepped tunnel. These frames are reminiscent of the steel-framed English station structures of the Victorian era, and promise to transport visitors on a journey through winemaking history.

babylonstoren-cellar-tour-wine-winemaking-wine-tunnel-cape-winelands-wine-country-winelands-cape-town-wine-tasting

Historic significance

As with all aspects of the farm, this innovative addition to Babylonstoren’s winery honours the farm’s connection to the past as well as the rich heritage of winemaking history.

This unique area forms part of the newly updated cellar tours, connecting the visits to the barrel maturation cellar and wine production cellar. Visitors follow the route of the grapes through the complete facility, from the off-loading area where the grapes from the vineyard are sorted before being pressed, through the many large stainless steel, oak and square concrete tanks where the grape juice is fermented.

Historical influences are woven into each layer of the experience, giving visitors a taste of winemaking traditions through the ages as they are introduced to various traditional fermentation and storage vessels on each descending level. The journey in the novel area commences at the top of the tunnel, inviting visitors to step through a glass partition and onto the first platform, where wine is completed in much the same way as the Romans did 6000 years ago in terracotta clay pots called amphorae. Engraved on the back of each amphora is the name of the person who crafted the clay pot by hand in Tuscany, Italy.

babylonstoren-cellar-tour-wine-winemaking-wine-tunnel-cape-winelands-cape-town-wine-history

One platform down finds visitors among the modern, egg-shaped Nomblot vessels made in southern Burgundy, France, from special concrete. Lower down, we find large, oval wooden vats called foudres, each containing more than 4000 litres of wine taking its time to reach maturity for bottling. The foudres are made from aged French oak trees grown in four different forests.

babylonstoren garden tour

Each of the vessels in these platforms represents a specific moment in winemaking history, but they also form part of the sequence of building blocks starting in the Babylonstoren vineyards to produce the latest vintages of unique Babylonstoren wines.

A unique wine tasting experience

After a glimpse into the quiet area at the bottom of the tunnel where, in the cool underground air, wine is matured in smaller 500 litre French oak barrels for many months, visitors retrace their steps to the middle of the stepped tunnel. Here, the journey culminates in a brand-new immersive tasting experience.

babylonstoren-cellar-tour-wine-winemaking-wine-tunnel-cape-winelands-cape-town-wine-tasting-wine-experience-activities

Surrounded by a vinoteque of thousands of fine bottled wines, guests gather around a long wooden table – illuminated by one of the skylights – for a unique tasting experience. With wine fermenting in stainless steel tanks at the entrance to the tunnel and the air filled with the aroma of wine maturing in wooden barrels at the other end, guests find themselves in the heart of the winemaking process.

Babylonstoren’s complete wine offering is served with accompaniments that complement each wine to perfection. Here, visitors are invited to delight in our award-winning wines and centuries of winemaking heritage.

Four cellar tours are offered daily at 11h00, 13h00, 15h00 or 17h00. Cost R275 per person (includes tasting) Group size 14 guests max Booking is advisable – please email [email protected] or phone 021 863 3852. Visit our website if you prefer to book your spot online.

Leave a Response

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

Moscow Metro Tour

  • Page active

Image

Description

Moscow metro private tours.

  • 2-hour tour $87:  10 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with hotel pick-up and drop-off
  • 3-hour tour $137:  20 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with Russian lunch in beautifully-decorated Metro Diner + hotel pick-up and drop off. 
  • Metro pass is included in the price of both tours.

Highlight of Metro Tour

  • Visit 10 must-see stations of Moscow metro on 2-hr tour and 20 Metro stations on 3-hr tour, including grand Komsomolskaya station with its distinctive Baroque décor, aristocratic Mayakovskaya station with Soviet mosaics, legendary Revolution Square station with 72 bronze sculptures and more!
  • Explore Museum of Moscow Metro and learn a ton of technical and historical facts;
  • Listen to the secrets about the Metro-2, a secret line supposedly used by the government and KGB;
  • Experience a selection of most striking features of Moscow Metro hidden from most tourists and even locals;
  • Discover the underground treasure of Russian Soviet past – from mosaics to bronzes, paintings, marble arches, stained glass and even paleontological elements;
  • Learn fun stories and myths about Coffee Ring, Zodiac signs of Moscow Metro and more;
  • Admire Soviet-era architecture of pre- and post- World War II perious;
  • Enjoy panoramic views of Sparrow Hills from Luzhniki Metro Bridge – MetroMost, the only station of Moscow Metro located over water and the highest station above ground level;
  • If lucky, catch a unique «Aquarelle Train» – a wheeled picture gallery, brightly painted with images of peony, chrysanthemums, daisies, sunflowers and each car unit is unique;
  • Become an expert at navigating the legendary Moscow Metro system;
  • Have fun time with a very friendly local;
  • + Atmospheric Metro lunch in Moscow’s the only Metro Diner (included in a 3-hr tour)

Hotel Pick-up

Metro stations:.

Komsomolskaya

Novoslobodskaya

Prospekt Mira

Belorusskaya

Mayakovskaya

Novokuznetskaya

Revolution Square

Sparrow Hills

+ for 3-hour tour

Victory Park

Slavic Boulevard

Vystavochnaya

Dostoevskaya

Elektrozavodskaya

Partizanskaya

Museum of Moscow Metro

  • Drop-off  at your hotel, Novodevichy Convent, Sparrow Hills or any place you wish
  • + Russian lunch  in Metro Diner with artistic metro-style interior for 3-hour tour

Fun facts from our Moscow Metro Tours:

From the very first days of its existence, the Moscow Metro was the object of civil defense, used as a bomb shelter, and designed as a defense for a possible attack on the Soviet Union.

At a depth of 50 to 120 meters lies the second, the coded system of Metro-2 of Moscow subway, which is equipped with everything you need, from food storage to the nuclear button.

According to some sources, the total length of Metro-2 reaches over 150 kilometers.

The Museum was opened on Sportivnaya metro station on November 6, 1967. It features the most interesting models of trains and stations.

Coffee Ring

The first scheme of Moscow Metro looked like a bunch of separate lines. Listen to a myth about Joseph Stalin and the main brown line of Moscow Metro.

Zodiac Metro

According to some astrologers, each of the 12 stops of the Moscow Ring Line corresponds to a particular sign of the zodiac and divides the city into astrological sector.

Astrologers believe that being in a particular zadiac sector of Moscow for a long time, you attract certain energy and events into your life.

Paleontological finds 

Red marble walls of some of the Metro stations hide in themselves petrified inhabitants of ancient seas. Try and find some!

  • Every day each car in  Moscow metro passes  more than 600 km, which is the distance from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
  • Moscow subway system is the  5th in the intensity  of use (after the subways of Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai).
  • The interval in the movement of trains in rush hour is  90 seconds .

What you get:

  • + A friend in Moscow.
  • + Private & customized Moscow tour.
  • + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
  • + An authentic experience of local life.
  • + Flexibility during the walking tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
  • + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
  • + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
  • + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
  • + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

Write your review

  • Preplanned tours
  • Daytrips out of Moscow
  • Themed tours
  • Customized tours
  • St. Petersburg

Home

Moscow Metro 2019

babylonstoren garden tour

Will it be easy to find my way in the Moscow Metro? It is a question many visitors ask themselves before hitting the streets of the Russian capital. As metro is the main means of transport in Moscow – fast, reliable and safe – having some skills in using it will help make your visit more successful and smooth. On top of this, it is the most beautiful metro in the world !

. There are over 220 stations and 15 lines in the Moscow Metro. It is open from 6 am to 1 am. Trains come very frequently: during the rush hour you won't wait for more than 90 seconds! Distances between stations are quite long – 1,5 to 2 or even 3 kilometers. Metro runs inside the city borders only. To get to the airport you will need to take an onground train - Aeroexpress.

RATES AND TICKETS

Paper ticket A fee is fixed and does not depend on how far you go. There are tickets for a number of trips: 1, 2 or 60 trips; or for a number of days: 1, 3 days or a month. Your trips are recorded on a paper ticket. Ifyou buy a ticket for several trips you can share it with your traveling partner passing it from one to the other at the turnstile.

babylonstoren garden tour

On every station there is cashier and machines (you can switch it to English). Cards and cash are accepted. 1 trip - 55 RUB 2 trips - 110 RUB

Tickets for 60 trips and day passes are available only at the cashier's.

60 rides - 1900 RUB

1 day - 230 RUB 3 days - 438 RUB 30 days - 2170 RUB.

The cheapest way to travel is buying Troyka card . It is a plastic card you can top up for any amount at the machine or at the ticket office. With it every trip costs 38 RUB in the metro and 21 RUB in a bus. You can get the card in any ticket office. Be prepared to leave a deposit of 50 RUB. You can get it back returning the card to the cashier.

babylonstoren garden tour

SamsungPay, ApplePay and PayPass cards.

One turnstile at every station accept PayPass and payments with phones. It has a sticker with the logos and located next to the security's cabin.

GETTING ORIENTED

At the platfrom you will see one of these signs.

It indicates the line you are at now (line 6), shows the direction train run and the final stations. Numbers below there are of those lines you can change from this line.

babylonstoren garden tour

In trains, stations are announced in Russian and English. In newer trains there are also visual indication of there you are on the line.

To change lines look for these signs. This one shows the way to line 2.

babylonstoren garden tour

There are also signs on the platfrom. They will help you to havigate yourself. (To the lines 3 and 5 in this case). 

babylonstoren garden tour

IMAGES

  1. About Babylonstoren Garden Tours in Paarl

    babylonstoren garden tour

  2. Garden at Babylonstoren

    babylonstoren garden tour

  3. The Babylonstoren Garden in South Africa Is A True Delight For The Senses

    babylonstoren garden tour

  4. Babylonstoren Garden Tour

    babylonstoren garden tour

  5. BABYLONSTOREN (Paarl)

    babylonstoren garden tour

  6. 5 reasons you need to visit Babylonstoren in South Africa

    babylonstoren garden tour

VIDEO

  1. Babylonstoren Wine Estate

  2. Babylonstoren, Stellenbosch

  3. Babylonstoren Minute 19 January 2024 🌽 #southafrica #garden #farm

  4. Enjoy a glass of Bitterlekker🍊 #babylonstoren #southafrica #franschhoek #travel #garden #aperitivos

  5. Bits of #babylonstoren 🐟 Feeding barbels #southafrica #franschhoek #travel #garden

COMMENTS

  1. Babylonstoren Flowers & Garden

    Visit our Garden. Set within 5 hectares (12 acres) of cultivated fruit and vegetables, the garden at Babylonstoren is at the heart of the farm. It was inspired by the historic Company's Garden in Cape Town, which supplied sailing ships of the Dutch East India Company with fresh vegetables and fruit during the days when the Cape was a halfway ...

  2. Welcome to Babylonstoren Wine Estate

    Based in the scenic Cape Winelands, Babylonstoren Wine Estate is home to a renowned garden, wine shop, farm store, restaurants and other Winelands attractions. Book before the end of April for a 3-night hotel stay between March and August 2024 & receive 2 tickets to the 2024 RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

  3. Visit Babylonstoren Cape Town

    Access your Babylonstoren Garden Membership and skip the queue on your next visit. Explore our diverse garden with an interactive farm map. Listen to an audio-guided tour of our Garden and Healing Garden on the Babylonstoren app. Follow the latest farm news and upcoming events. Book workshops, restaurant visits and spa treatments.

  4. Special Collections Garden Tours

    The special collections garden tour takes place Monday to Friday at 11h30. To join us, be sure to book online and meet our gardeners in front of the Farm Shop on the day. "The garden tour was amazing. Beautiful gardens with a knowledgeable and engaging guide. Would definitely recommend it to others, as well as visit again.".

  5. Babylonstoren

    When visitors come to Babylonstoren, whether it's for dinner or a garden tour, an entrance fee is required for access to our 3.5 hectare garden, which is the heart of Babylonstoren. Weekends and public holidays: R20 per adult | R10 per child under 12 Weekdays: R10 for all Farm greetings, Babylonstoren team We hope to welcoming you back soon!

  6. Babylonstoren Garden Tour

    Franschhoek. 7690. Monday to Friday: 08h00 - 17h00. Saturday: 09h00 - 16h00. Sunday: [email protected]. The Babylonstoren garden is at the heart of the Babylonstoren farm. The design was inspired by the historic Company's Garden in Cape Town, which for centuries supplied ships sailing between Europe and Asia with vegetables and fruit.

  7. Things to do

    Specialist tour. In addition to our daily garden tour, hotel guests can take part in a guided walk to discover our special collections in the garden. Depending on the time of year, gardeners may take guests to see the succulent collection, the cycads next to the stream or for a walk through the Healing Garden.

  8. Babylonstoren

    Babylonstoren opened its doors to the public in November 2010. The garden divides into 15 sections that include vegetable patches, orchards of fruit, nuts, fragrant indigenous plants, ducks and chickens, bees for pollinating, a prickly pear maze to wander through and a palette of trees of historical or botanical significance.

  9. Babylonstoren: A Boland paradise waiting to be explored

    To explore the sheer expanse of the garden, there is a Daily Garden Tour that starts in front of the Farm Shop and a Special Collections Tour led by expert gardeners. Times: Daily, 9am to 5pm, last entry at 4pm | Daily Garden Tour: 10am | Special Collections Tour: Monday to Friday, 11:30am; Cost: An entrance fee is required for access to the ...

  10. Why you should visit the Babylonstoren Garden, Stellenbosch

    Finding paradise at the Bablyonstoren Garden. To give you a little background, Babylonstoren is not just any other wine farm nor just another Stellenbosch/Paarl accommodation. They are mainly known for their beautiful Babylonstoren garden from which the name derives. The garden is a reference and an homage to Cape Town's famous Company's ...

  11. More about Babylonstoren Garden Tours

    Babylonstoren is a Cape Dutch farm that lies just outside of Franschhoek in the Western Cape. With 8 acres of fruit and vegetables gardens home to over 300 varieties of plants, all of which are edible, the garden it definitely a must visit for food lovers. The garden was inspired by the 17th and 18th century Company Gardens of the Ditch East ...

  12. 5 reasons you need to visit Babylonstoren in South Africa

    Babylonstoren might be one of the best wine farms to visit in South Africa, with expansive gardens, free tours, and a world class restaurant serving food grown just meters way. ... It takes just a second to register online to join a free daily garden tour at Babylonstoren. These tours start every day at 10:00 AM, and are guided by one of the ...

  13. Babylonstoren

    0. Located in Paarl, Babylonstoren is a historic Cape Dutch farm that dates back to 1692. The Babylonstoren farm and hotel has become a beloved destination for travellers seeking an authentic South African experience that combines luxury, history, and natural beauty. From its breathtaking gardens to its world-class restaurants, Babylonstoren is ...

  14. 9 Reasons To Visit Babylonstoren In South Africa

    9 Reasons why you should visit Babylonstoren 1. You can visit the garden at Babylonstoren with a free daily tour. At Babylonstoren they arrange daily tours that start at 10am and leave from the Farm Shop. One of their experienced gardeners will be your guide on this tour, during which they encourage guests to pick, taste, smell and touch while walking through the garden.

  15. Babylonstoren Garden Tours, Franschhoek

    Open for lunch Wednesday to Sunday from 12h00-15h30. Booking is essential. Reservations open two months in advance and can be made between the hours of 8h00 and 17h00 on +27 (0)21 863 3852 or [email protected]. The magnificent Greenhouse tucked away at the rear of the gardens amongst Oak trees is the perfect casual stop-off after ...

  16. Travel to Babylonstoren in Stellenbosch

    Less than 45 minutes' drive from Cape Town lies Babylonstoren, one of the oldest and best preserved 17th century Cape Dutch farms. The magnificent fruit and vegetable garden spans over 3.5 hectares and has incredible vistas of the surrounding mountains. There are a variety of accommodation options across the property including: a farmhouse ...

  17. Babylonstoren Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting

    Here, visitors are invited to delight in our award-winning wines and centuries of winemaking heritage. Four cellar tours are offered daily at 11h00, 13h00, 15h00 or 17h00. Cost R275 per person (includes tasting) Group size 14 guests max. Booking is advisable - please email [email protected] or phone 021 863 3852.

  18. Moscow Metro Tour with Friendly Local Guides

    Description Moscow Metro private tours. 2-hour tour $87: 10 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with hotel pick-up and drop-off 3-hour tour $137: 20 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with Russian lunch in beautifully-decorated Metro Diner + hotel pick-up and drop off. Metro pass is included in the price of both tours. Highlight of Metro Tour

  19. Private Guided Moscow Underground Palaces Metro Tour

    A unique private experience of Moscow Metro. We are a team of art-historians, travellers, photographers and bloggers. We will show you the best metro stations of Moscow metro and will be able to change the itinerary according to your wishes. The tour will last for around 2 hours. At the end we can leave at your hotel or anywhere in the city center. See you in Moscow!:)

  20. Moscow metro tour

    Moscow Metro. The Moscow Metro Tour is included in most guided tours' itineraries. Opened in 1935, under Stalin's regime, the metro was not only meant to solve transport problems, but also was hailed as "a people's palace". Every station you will see during your Moscow metro tour looks like a palace room. There are bright paintings ...

  21. Moscow Metro 2019

    Customized tours; St. Petersburg; SMS: +7 (906) 077-08-68 [email protected]. Moscow Metro 2019. Will it be easy to find my way in the Moscow Metro? It is a question many visitors ask themselves before hitting the streets of the Russian capital. As metro is the main means of transport in Moscow - fast, reliable and safe - having some ...