From historical evidence, it seems that guests have been a tradition at 161 Dorp Street for no less than three centuries! The first owner of today's Eendracht Hotel property was a French woman named Sara Couchet, and furniture, crockery and stemware from her estate sale in 1714 suggested that she offered meals and lodging.
Subsequent years saw many additions and changes made. Then, in 1890, the place was essentially rebuilt as an elegant, double-storey student boarding house, a role it served for the next 70 years before it was demolished.
The Lutz family acquired the property in 1996 and conducted extensive research to establish what the original boarding house looked like. They then worked with the Simon van der Stel Foundation and Stellenbosch Aesthetics Committee to plan its reconstruction, which was completed the following year.
With only 13 rooms, the Eendracht Hotel is an intimate property that has the gracious feel of the type of small-but-quality hotel you'll find in Switzerland, Germany or France. A member of Cape Country Routes, it was awarded the Lilizela Tourism Award for Best Small Hotel in South Africa in 2019 and is a regular winner of Trip Advisor's Best-of-the-Best Travellers' Choice Award, most recently in 2022. The hotel was awarded four stars in July 2021 in the Boutique Hotel category.
POWERED UP
The property is load-shedding-proof, with alternative solar power supplies and a 24kW electric vehicle charging point in the off-street parking. The free but secure Wi-Fi is very fast.
As far as green and sustainability credentials go, the property was ahead of the game, electing to reduce its carbon footprint and reliance on fossil-fuel power well before Eskom's failures.
There was no interruption to power, not even a flicker, during Farmer's Weekly's visit. On a cold and gloomy day, the solar-heated water was steaming hot.
EXCELLENT DINING
Denne historien er fra Farmer's Weekly 21 July-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra Farmer's Weekly 21 July-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
New farmers' seedling pitfalls
Inexperienced farmers may be tempted to grow seedlings from seed themselves, but they have much to gain by trusting a seedling grower at a nursery to perform this task for them instead
South African avocado production: a success story
Avocado production in South Africa has expanded markedly since the industry's humble beginnings over 80 years ago. From a small grove planted in 1938 in what was then Nelspruit, the industry has blossomed to seven million trees planted on 20 000ha. Dr Guy Witney, project manager at Great Brak Avos, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the country's avocado production.
Unlocking value through livestock exports
Exporting livestock might sound like a daunting business that's better left for big companies, but Gerrie Ferreira, who farms near Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape, has been doing it successfully for almost 30 years, sometimes in partnership with other breeders. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the huge potential this market holds, and offers some advice for farmers who are contemplating going this route.
An agribusiness's dedication to community upliftment
For agribusiness NWK, located in Lichtenburg, North West, corporate social investment is an important part of creating a positive influence alongside financial returns. Johan Bezuidenhout, NWK’s group manager of corporate marketing and communication, spoke to Annelie Coleman about why the company chooses to invest millions of rands in the area it operates in every year.
Empowering dreams, transforming lives
Since its launch in 2013, the Agri's Got Talent competition has revolutionised the lives of many farmworkers by unlocking their hidden talents and fostering a culture of empowerment. Glenneis Kriel spoke to various finalists about how the contest has changed their lives.
Foreign investment: agriculture maintains its appeal
South Africa remains a popular destination for foreign investors, despite an often negative outlook from its citizens. It is a gateway to Africa, and with its counterseasonal production to the Northern Hemisphere and favourable weather, local agriculture is especially well placed to attract foreign interest, bringing with it hope for rural communities
The real value and message of COP29 for SA agriculture
While the 2024 Conference of the Parties may have disappointed those who hoped for real progress, it's more important for South African agriculture to highlight its role in carbon mitigation
Improving efficiencies in feed and grain milling
Bühler, a Swiss-based company that provides solutions and equipment for various industries, including food and animal feed processing, has pledged that by 2025, it will deliver scalable solutions that will reduce energy, waste and water by 50% in the value chains of its customers.
Tips for better olive production
At an SA Olive Association field day in November, industry experts shared ways to improve olive production efficiencies, from soil preparation to harvesting.
More effort needed to protect vulnerable cheetah
On International Cheetah Day, commemorated every year on 4 December, emphasis was placed on the vulnerability of the species.
