Genadendal

GENADENDAL HISTORIC VILLAGE AND MUSEUM

Nelson Mandela: “During our term in office as President of the Republic of South Africa, we decided to rename the presidential official residence in Cape Town from ‘Westbrooke’ to ‘Genadendal’ which means ‘Valley of Grace’. We also visited this historic little town on 10 October 1995. The renaming of the official residence was in honor of the oldest mission settlement in South Africa. Over the centuries it became a place associated with the coming together of people from different racial groups: in addition to being the first permanent Khoi settlement at the Cape, it was also a place of sanctuary for more than a thousand slaves when slavery was abolished in 1838. Genadendal is blessed with a rich tangible and intangible heritage. It boasts of vernacular architecture, musical traditions and language and a long tradition of humanitarian efforts and political struggle. It is with pleasure that we learned about the completion of the restoration project due to the assistance of the Dutch Government. The improvements that were effected provided the inhabitants with infrastructure to improve the quality of their lives. May the history of Genadendal continue to inspire especially during the 270th year of its existence.The Challenge of Genadendal presents the results of this important project.’ — Nelson Mandela (former President of South Africa

GENADENDAL HISTORIC VILLAGE AND MUSEUM

Don’t miss a visit to the historic Genadendal, its ‘werf” and the Museum. Genadendal is blessed with a rich tangible and intangible heritage. It boasts of vernacular architecture, musical traditions and language and a long tradition of humanitarian efforts and political struggle.

Some years ago saw the completion of a restoration project  with  the assistance of the Dutch Government. The improvements that were effected provided the inhabitants with infrastructure to improve the quality of their lives.

This interesting village of Genadendal, the oldest Moravian mission village in Africa, has church buildings and a school that dates back to 1738.  To visit Genadendal’s church square, Die Werf, is to journey back in time. It boasts both an old watermill and a fascinating museum that gives visitors insight into life in Genadendal over the centuries. Don’t miss a stroll into the old vegetable gardens, where you will find replicated khoi huts built by the community to celebrate their heritage.

The original Moravian mission church houses the oldest pipe organ in South Africa. In front of the church stands the old bell and a collection of oak trees grant shade to those attending church.

Around the church yard are the original little thatched cottages that first housed Georg Schmidt, the German missionary of the Moravian church who founded the village, and his mission.

Georg Schmidt arrived in the area to evangelise among the Khoi people as far back as 1738, only to be thrown out by rival Cape Dutch Reformed clergy who did not believe he had the right to baptise converts, after only eight years. It was some 45 years later before the Moravians finally resumed Schmidt’s work, and Genadendal grew into one of the largest settlements in the Cape Colony.

Today the centre of town is a community project run by locals who make available a museum, the water mill, a printing museum, a bookshop and country-style accommodation to visitors.

When you visit Greyton remember that your ultimate Greyton accommodation can be booked through our offices, bookings@greytontourism.com or 028 254 9564/9414

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