A culture town worth the stop

Richmond: where art, literature and history combine for a great visitor experience. By

Random acts of adventure

in Malawi Pages 50&51

The fruits that last forever

Page 52

Richmond lies just off the N1, almost halfway between Johannesburg and Cape Town. In the past, the town had little to offer passing motorists, except for a chance to refuel, grab a snack and continue their journeys north or south. Modern-day Richmond is worth at least two days of a traveller’s time, in terms of a range of activities, overnight stays and dining choices.

The Horse Museum on Loop Street used to be a school for the orphaned and the underprivileged. It was converted into a horse museum (one of only two of its kind in the world) in 1963. Apart from all things equestrian, the museum also offers Victorian-era lifestyle displays and an intriguing legend of an in-house ghost.

Next door is another museum full of interesting oddments that will keep browsers occupied for hours: South African (Anglo-Boer) War gravestones, a relic from the old cooldrink factory, cuttings about an infamous local murder, a collection of vinyl albums of popular music from 50 years ago, and an enormous whale vertebra with flensing knife and harpoon.

Even the Info Centre across the road is packed with memorabilia sure to catch visitors’ attention.

Further on along Loop Street is the reading room for the BookBedonnerd Literary Festival, which used to take place every October. This festival has seen the literary likes of playwright Athol Fugard, academic

Professor Jonathan Jansen, poet Clinton du Plessis, author Rian Malan and activist Breyten Breytenbach over the past decade.

Nearby is the unusual and visually stunning MAPSA Gallery and book-binding centre, where a team of Richmond community women produce works of art in book form, using Japanese paper craft techniques to bind pages into books, covered in recycled flour, maize and sugar bags.

The old Masonic Hotel in Richmond has been transformed into another small enterprise that creates local jobs: Karoo Creations, which produces topend duvets made from sheep’s wool.

At the edge of town is the Hope Centre, which feeds more than 200 Richmond children on most weekdays. The Hope Centre is funded by the local branch of Rotary International and also cultivates its own vegetable plot.

About 18km to the north on the national highway stands the Karoo Padstal, owned and staffed by Richmond people. The upmarket farm stall has developed into a central source for regional products.

If you make something authentic from the Karoo, this is your shop window. If you’re motoring down or up the N1, this is your oasis of coffee, upmarket edibles and all manner of Karoo goods.

Modern Art Project: 073 436 4413 Richmond Horse Museum: 072 629 0742;

email wilnatolken@gmail.com. Richmond Books & Prints: 081 270 8827; email booktownrichmond@hotmail.com.

Die Vetmuis Restaurant: 082 380 1196 Pat’s Kitchen (Saddles Bar): 053 693 0142 or 073 406 4643 Richmond Trading Post (Tourist Info & Antiques): 082 797 2018;

email iansmit@yahoo.com

Karoo Padstal (Open Mon-Sat): 081 219 2890 Richmond Meats & Deli: 082 554 8477 or 053 693 0037; email rosavdhever@gmail.com.

Karoo Creations: 076 886 0262 BookBedonnerd Festival: BookBedonnerd XV takes

place on 2-5 November.