Stellenbosch and Its Clocks

The clock route is designed as a circular walking route and can take as little as two hours to complete, but you may choose to spend more time in the presence of each “Grandmother or Grand- father”. The clock route will take you to some of the oldest buildings in our town and will offer you a taste of the style, glamour and character of the clocks and their owners.

You will meet more than 23 antique clocks dating from 1730 to 1930 on the Clock Route and more than 30 new world clocks on the Holtzhausen website, www.holtzhausen.com. Mr. J Arzul at Gun O' Clock (18 on clock route) stocks the widest selection of Holtzhausen clocks in South Africa.

A must see is the only clock in South Africa declared a national monument, the Johann Junck long case clock (circa 1770) in the Africana section of the University’s library (clock 13). If size impresses you, you might want to have a look at the French turret clock with a face of 1.8m in diameter on the Tokara wine estate (the only point on the clock route to which you will need to drive, clock 23). There are also small gems, like the gilded dome mantel clock in the OM Bergh house (clock 5), or the beautifully painted Friesland wall clock in the Burger house (clock 22), on the far right side of The Braak. Also, don’t miss the Bakelite Lion Mantel Clock in Caledon Villa, (clock 15).

Take a look at the route or pick up a brochure at the Stellenbosch Museum or the Tourist Information Center.

We at Holtzhausen see
“clocks, like mountains, as icons of beauty, witnessing the passage of time”.

We hope you see this too. Enjoy the walk and may it be time well spent!

Greetings

Herman, Catherine, Nicolaas & Pippa Holtzhausen

We wish to thank all the people who actively contributed with their enthusiasm, time and expertise: the staff from Stellenbosch Museum; Lydia de Waal, Director of the Sasol Museum and her staff; Mr and Mrs. J. Krige of Caledon Villa; Mr. Jacques Arzul of Gun O’Clock and the Staff at Burger House.

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