Celebrate French food and culture in a rural setting

La Petite Dauphine Guest Farm in Franschhoek celebrates its 12th anniversary this July and celebrating is what La Petite Dauphine does best. “We celebrate life, love, family and friends with excellent food and fine wine to uplift the soul at La Petite Dauphine,” says co- owner Louis Matthee.

He says the experience at La Petite Dauphine Guest Farm is all about escaping the city rush and embracing the rural tranquillity in an idyllic setting with breath- taking scenery centred on expansive views of the Franschhoek Mountain.

Located on a working farm of olive groves, fruit orchards and vineyards, La Petite Dauphine, which has been listed as number-one in traveller24’s top five luxury South African boutique hotels, accommodates guests in the luxurious comfort of superior suites just two kilometres from the village of Franschhoek – “the Gourmet Capital of South Africa”.

Escape the urban jungle for a superb country break where plum trees line farm lanes and vineyards yield bountiful harvests.

It’s a paradise for those who love lazing in the countryside, eating first- class French food and drinking fine wine.

“Plan your perfect day under our flowering gum tree overlooking the pond, or under the 200 year-old oak trees, all while feasting your eyes with breath- taking views,” says Matthee.

“While our visitors enjoy the laidback serenity and peacefulness of the farm environment it is close enough to the cosmopolitan Franschhoek to be able to decide at the drop of a hat to dine alfresco at one of Franschhoek’s many street café’s or to stroll into history with the village heritage walk, which describes how French Huguenots who after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in France in 1685 – when Protestantism was outlawed – fled their homeland and a few hundred of them eventually made their way by ship to the Cape of Good Hope.

“A number of the French Huguenots were given land by the Dutch government in a valley called Oliphantshoek (Elephant Corner) – so named because of the vast herds of elephants that roamed the area - soon after they settled it became known as Franschhoek ( French Corner) as it had the highest concentration of French speakers of any area in the Cape.”

Today, La Petite Dauphine employs 30 people and is a balance between farming, guest house, restaurant, and function venue.

Anybody who has a love for style without pretension, exquisite food that is uncomplicated, quality wines, and a tranquil rural getaway can be grateful, for La Petit Dauphine is all of that and more.