Pniel

(Groot Drakenstein)

Pniel: (Genesis 32:30’…. And Jacob called the place Pniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved’). The small village is located on the banks of the Dwarsrivier in the beautiful Drakenstein Valley, silhouetted by the Simonsberg Mountains in the western perimeter and the Hottentots-Holland Mountains in the east. Pniel is surrounded by large fruit orchards, beautiful vineyards and wineries. The Drakenstein Valley is considered the birthplace of the South African beciduois fruit export industry.

GENERAL INFORMATION

How to get there

From Stellenbosch take the highway via Hellshoogte Pass.

Average Temperatures: Maximum 24°c – Minimum 12°c

Average Rainfall: (La Motte) 830 mm per annum, (Assegaaibos 2172 mm per annum.

Town Size: 39 Morgen

Dams

Wemmershoek, Tierwaterkloof and Skuifraam (under construction).

Mountains

Simonsberg, Hottentots-Holland Mountains, Jonkershoek Mountain Range

Rivers

Dwarsriver and Bergriver

HISTORICAL VIEW

When the country’s slaves were emancipated in 1834 most had nowhere to go, and certain philanthropic movements were deeply concerned with this wandering-around of these former slaves. Some of these slaves however, with the exception of those who were tradesman and entrepreneurs, were quite adept in the intricacies of fruit farming. As a result land was purchased in the Drakenstein Valley (which was subdivided into 99 holdings) on which a mission station was founded in 1843. The first missionary was Reverend Johan Frederick Stegmann (1825 – 1910) who served as the spiritual, as well as the secular leader of the community during this period. The objects in mind with the founding of the mission station at Pniel were to educate the coloured people of the area in the Apostolic faith, to give them an ordinary education and lastly to train them as useful labourers easily available for the owners of the neighbouring estates.

Pniel Congregational Church

Historical church

Pniel Community Museum

Exhibits of old photographs and furniture. Also on display are the family trees of the freed slaves who settled in Pniel.

ATTRACTIONS

Bien Donne Werf

Boschendal Wine Estate

Candles by Candlelight

Every Christmas eve the inhabitants of Pniel gather on the ‘werf’ to watch the village children perform a Christmas play, and also sing Christmas carols while holding a lit candle.

Chrysanthemum Show

For many years the local participants have been selecting special flowers to pamper and grow, so as to have the perfect flowers to put on show on this day. The day is filled with activity for the flowers and other goods are for sale after the competition.

Easter Time

Over the Easter weekend the church holds special services to celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ.

L’Omarins Wine Estate

Unicorn Clothing