Vredenburg

Vredenburg is situated in the Western Cape on the West Coast

Vredenburg is situated in the Western Cape on the West Coast near to Saldanah Bay. Vredenburg, which means the town of peace, started somewhat less peaceful than its name implies. A spring that bubbles on the boundary line separating two farms Heuningklip and Witteklip, had the owners of these two farms, W. Baard and C. Loubser, quarrelling so much over water rights that the spring was first known as Twisfontein (fountain of strife) and later, as legal action was taken, as Prosesfontein (lawsuit fountain). In 1875 a congregation was established and a church was built which helped to bring peace (vrede), to settle the dispute. A monument was erected near the site of the contentious spring. Today numerous businesses line the main road of Vredenburg, the largest administrative and commercial centre on the West Coast.

In 1975, by government decree, Vredenburg and Saldanha were united as the Vredenburg-Saldanha Municipality. Today the local government is known as the West Coast Peninsula Transitional Council, and it includes St. Helena Bay, Paternoster, Jacobsbaai and Stompneus Bay, which makes it the largest municipal area in South Africa.

Vredenburg Fossil Park

Over the past 40 years fossils found as a result of phosphate mining operations in the Langebaanweg area showed us that the West Coast of five million years ago was very different. When mining operations ceased in 1995, the South African Museum, together with SAMANCOR, recognized the potential for developing a Fossil Park on the West Coast. Consequently a 14ha fossil-rich area within the mine property was declared a National Monument in 1996. Private tours through the Fossil Park can be arranged on request.

Accommodation in Vredenburg

• Villa Vita Nouva Guest House - Guest House accommodation in Vredenburg. Expericience accommodation at Villa Vita Nouva Guest House! We are situated in a quiet cul-de-sac on the hill in Vredenburg overlooking Saldanha Bay and Langebaan Lagoon. Being situated in Vredenburg, we offer easy access to Paternoster, Saldanha Bay, Langebaan, Jacobsbaai, and St Helena Bay.
• Abalone Guesthouse offers B&B accommodation in Vredenburg in the Western Cape. Abalone Guesthouse is situated in Jacobsbaai Village on the West Coast of South Africa - another prime seafront "cultural revival" village on a road less traveled 12 kilometres from Saldanha and Vredenburg and less than 90 minutes from Cape Town.

Accommodation in and around South Africa