南アフリカのスウェレンダムのツアー – 歴史、名所、そしてサプライズ！

南アフリカのスウェレンダムのツアー – 歴史、名所、そしてサプライズ！

ah there is just no place like home beautiful South Africa i’ve missed you and look here there’s another town for us to explore i am busy traveling along the N2 National Road 2 here in South Africa and I’ve stopped here at Swendam you can see they established in the 1740s in fact the third oldest town in the country let’s go and explore there’s Cape Town and Swell & Dum is over there it almost feels like I’ve taken some time travel back to the 1700s 18th century Dutch Cape beautiful surroundings look at the Longa Ba i’ve decided to start the vlog at the town entrance close to the Dross Day cuz this is really the historical heart of the town you can see today it’s a museum so let’s go in yeah there’s the entrance and we’ve also got the beautiful garden here look at the old cannon swell and dumb approximately 220 km from Cape Town and I believe a similar distance from George as well about 220 and it is a little bit off the end too i guess many people bypass it on the way to the garden route but let’s have a look here gosh first impressions is it’s very well maintained looks very 18th century yeah it’s a national monument look at that when I did my research on Swallandum I thought there might be an interesting story about the name maybe something like a swollen dam but as was the case with Hopefield it is much more boring swelland was named after Hrik Swalenriel a Cape Governor and his wife Elena Tendama just for a bit of context around the 1740s the Dutch East India Company or the VOC they decided to set up a new administrative district way out east of Stalenbos and that would become swell and dumb in due course this was mainly to keep an eye on the Tboos the farmers ventured out inland who looked for new grazing land and more freedom the VOC they were keen to maintain some control over these farmers and to manage the expanding colony better so there you go Swallandom as the third oldest town in South Africa anyways let’s go and check out the museum let me just show you my ticket quickly that I bought i’ll put it down there draw Museum you can see their admission for adults 40 rand one British pound is about 23 maybe 24 rands nowadays and I am visitor 5158 by the looks of it and how brilliant is this with your admission ticket you also get a brochure and you can read more there about the draw day itself there’s my ticket and there’s Jiola who sold me my ticket hello Jola offices for the landlord [Music] buyer buyers there you go very well how you get an introduction at a museum that’s who you’re supposed to be donkey yeah donkey thank you so now armed with that information I will explore a little bit here in the draw the dining room yeah wow you definitely get a timeless feel here now that’s how you made a traditional coffee i guess in modern day South Africa with Escom doing its tricks we will return to that but anyway let’s not dwell on that let’s look at some of the photographs and the paintings here yeah very illustrative look at the old clock and beautiful wooden furniture more information here the dining room at the Cape the dining room was traditionally situated at the center of the house this characteristic was derived from the hall plans of medieval Europe and was well suited to the relaxed informality of Cape life this is the only room in the house with overhead lighting okay there we go a beautiful wooden harmonium here donated in 1981 lots of portraits and paintings here of influential people anyways let’s go to the kitchen and on the way there we’ve got more information here in Dutch about commissioners and well chairman mayors okay no entry there but kitchen over here all right this room the original function is unknown but originally it could be reached from the kitchen i don’t know maybe like a guest room or something it is amazing how often the name William Robertson features when I travel in South Africa he was listed obviously in Robertson we came across him in Forest Smith and here in Swell & Dam he features again Dr william Robertson after which the town Robertson is named the lgraph of Dr robertson is also here all right let’s go to the kitchen here oh yes now we are talking imagine the communal feel here back a few hundred years ago look at all the kitchen stuff technology back in the day this is what your grandma’s grandma’s kitchen would have looked like absolutely brilliant don’t you think look there discarded wagon tires were used to protect the plasted surface where the fire was made copper utensils were made at the Cape but most of the iron wear was imported yeah can you imagine getting stuff to swell and dumb back in the day importing that would have been a mission the staircase leads up to the loft where fruit and vegetables as well as bolt the dried meat and dried fish were kept so there you go bit of a storage facility and close to the kitchen i can just bring it down here and prepare the food you’ve got a pantry here yeah keeping food fresh and fit for purpose was a bit of a mission back in the day beautiful arrangement here is it just me or did people back in the day take their dining a bit more seriously a little bit more orderly it was a big thing it was a communal thing i’m not sure that it is still the case today right let’s explore more here we’ve got a bedroom notice the Dutch East India Company logo there the VOC let’s check out a bedroom oh yes imagine traveling all the way from the Cape or Stalin Bosch and then you come and sleep here the bedroom with swan bed most of the furniture in this room dates from the early 19th century when the new classical style was popular in the Cape and more in relation to the tester bed or the Swan bed the Swan is a museum reconstruction based on available evidence the Swan is a Lutheran emblem and the original owner was JH Krauss and look there in Prague when I was in Prague I talked about Yan Hus or John Hus who was burnt on the steak and he’s mentioned here in Swendum thousands of miles from Prague but yeah wow look at that and there you can see the swan over there yeah absolutely beautiful historic building this and I love how they got information on absolutely everything here all the photographs all the portraits the dross day 1777 yeah there’s old maps there’s a wider district yeah wonderful that they’ve preserved all of this here’s a dressing room okay so it’s got a wardrobe and yeah back in those days I guess people came to the dressing room to get dressed they didn’t necessarily do that anywhere else like the bedroom you can read more about this in your own time and I just want to point out Yan Farib is responsible for introducing the oak tree to South Africa so all the oak furniture in this part of world that was his baby the secretary’s office oh wow yeah look at the feather they would still have used the feather and ink to sign documents to write documents oh and this is where the boss would have hanged out the magistrate’s office oh yes there’s the flag of the Duchies India Company there’s a table and look he’s got three feathers not just one he has a lot of documents to sign there’s some of the history that Giola referred to earlier and you can read more in your own time you can also read here about the more I guess recent history the 20th century including apartate pass laws and in swelland the application of the group areas act as well lots of history here in swelland I’ll tell you what I don’t always go into museums but for 40 rand this is an absolutely brilliant deal anyway here’s the court i guess it would not have been a brilliant deal for you to end up here back in the day so if you committed a crime or you did something very bad you would end up here and the magistrate would sit here and the sound of this gavvel against the wood there that would be a terrifying noise more history there and some information about Joseph Barry i’ll talk more about him in due course but he arrived in Cape Town in 1817 he’s a famous name in this part of the world and there you go part of spell and dum story all the tickbs the farmers who moved to the area and the Dutch East India Company i had to keep a close eye on them yeah they would have traveled in wagons such as these yeah frost Museum you can be very very proud of this the way you’ve preserved this look there they even got some keys listed there look at the size of some of the keys they’ve used back in the day i bought my groceries this morning the magistrate had a key role to play in collecting taxes and ensuring fiscal control in the country obviously the Dutchies India Company when they established Swallandum it meant a little bit more effort was required on the administrative side so this building here undoubtedly played a key role for the Dutch East India Company yeah so that was the main building but there are a few other here on the grounds as well a few smaller ones with some exhibitions let’s go and check them out what have we got there lecture hall exhibition hall yeah I just love these fat roof buildings cape Dutch style all right let’s see what we’ve got here dk le yeah it doesn’t look open here there’s the entrance here through the toilets cuz this door is open [Music] okay some wagons here i believe Swendam was famous for its wagons back in the day here you’ve got a hear vehicle was drawn by horses usually two but sometimes four a coffin was placed between the railings so coffin in there yeah just look at the beautiful design the wheels here and for families who could not afford this there was this option to carry the coffin the lake bar the beer and here is a Cape Cart another form of cart and you’ve got the buggy or the open cart here as well and yeah this one looks a little bit more upper class is that the right term stage coach there you go this coach is a replica of his so-called Zedber coach and was manufactured by the Dan brothers of Durbanville for use during the Farbec festival the car fra 1952 oh wow look at the size of the wheels april 1952 so 300 years after Fibbec arrived at the Cape seven male coaches converged on the Friib Festival Arena in Cape Town having begun their journey in other cities in what was then the Union of South Africa yeah that is quite a route all the way from Ventuk to Cape Town a classic N7 all right I think that is it from the DS day let’s go and explore more of a town and as we walk there I’ll tell you a little bit more about the economy of Swendam and today I’ve read that it is a farming area known for raising cattle and sheep and they also grow some grain and fruit in the area here you can see more of a beautiful landscape swell & Dam a true hidden gem here in South Africa i say hidden many people know about it but because you don’t drive through it when you’re on the Inu it is a little bit hidden you have to turn into the town to visit it and I’m glad I did what have we got here now mwa Africana sheep archaeological records show that domestic animals have been present in southern Africa for almost 2,000 years animals such as sheep goats and cattle were brought in by communities migrating from the central lake area of Africa my understanding is that the wool industry of South Africa actually started here in the Uabar in the Swalland region i’ve read that Swelland’s connection with wool started around 1789 the same year as the French Revolution so I guess in a way you can say there was a wool revolution here in the UAR and at that time certainly in the UAR there were not a lot of settlements and the town of Swelland was very tiny just one store and most supplies had to be hauled over the mountains by traveling salesmen and then in 1819 Joseph Barry visited Swallandom for the first time he fell in love with a town he even married a local farmer’s daughter and told himself “If a right business opportunity comes along I’m going to settle here.” Barry was happy to play the long game and to wait for the right opportunity over the next few years Swell and Dumb experienced quite a few droughts leaving farmers hungry and desperate the government stepped in they asked for bits to transport rice and grain from Cape Town to Swell and Dumb but there was a bit of a problem crossing the mountains was no joke so Lor’s pass wasn’t built yet so you can imagine what a rough ride that would have been this is where Barry saw his opportunity and he fought outside the box why not ship goods along the coast to the mouth of the Bria River and then card them by ox wagon to Swalendam that was a bit of a genius move things got so well that Barry set up a depot at the rivermouth and he called it Port Boour the farmers they were over the moon no more grueling two-month tres to Cape Town to sell their stuff merchants in Cape Town they were just as happy finally a way to get their goods inland and just so Barry’s little trading venture takes off and by 1824 this is when he made swell and dami home over the next decade Barry rode the highs and lows of business and in 1854 he set up a venture with his nephews and it became quite big in fact I don’t think it is far-fetched to refer to it as an empire the trading empire of Barrys in the 19th century they had branches in the Urbar in Cape Town and even in London and the farmers they were happy they boosted production they made more money and the whole region thrived so that was pretty much the golden age of Swendam that mid-9th century anyways just outside the drawst you have a garden the draw garden and you can see that that was created in the 18th century its original form was much larger than the present plot the current layout is based on plans and sketches dating to between 1776 to 1844 so 1844 certainly that’s when the barries were in town the other thing that swelland is very famous for is that it was a republic for a few months in 1795 and in fact there’s a restaurant here called Republic to I guess commemorate that famous year so let’s see if we can grab a coffee and I’ll tell you more about that history in due course yeah wow they’ve got some interesting rustic elements outside here you can see their republic and the year 1795 and I’ve met the friendly staff here hello Selma good good to nice man yeah Selma’s just making me a cappuccino but she’s busy showing some of the wines of the region as well look there of course famous wine country they’ve even got the local wines here you can see Bonnie Veil and Robertson’s not far from here either look they’ve even got Swell & Brew some of the famous people who have frequented the establishment here and yeah I do remember watching this YouTube video where Swendam was a finalist in the town over here i don’t think they won it so maybe next entry is in order swell & Dam what do you say how brilliant is this look at these candle holders and some piping used for a wine rack as well just look at that they also got a gin distillery here you can see there rebel gin 1795 and the scan bloom i’ve been told that’s a type of fame boss blushing bride sedwick’s old brown kettle i only know the cherry i didn’t know that you can make tea all right got myself a coffee it was 35 rand and now I need to decide where to sit here spoiled for choice do I go for the view there or do I go for a bit of peace and quiet here with a view of a dross day yeah maybe I’ll go here for a bit take some time out and yes what a beautiful beautiful town 1795 was an iconic year for Swallandom that is the year in which they became a republic they became tired of the chaos and the corruption of a Duchese India company and from the 17th of June until the 4th of November they went full DIY government they even had their own president Armana Stain and yes the republic was shortlived but it is still legendary in this part of world anyways onwards and upwards i’ve noticed there’s some more wagons here more carts and another museum sign there and in fact the tourist information center is here as well so is this part of a dross day as well looks like the jail yes indeed the old jail and this is also a national monument let’s go and check it out information office there’s no one here let me just check no they are shut some more information here as well swellandom past and present you can see there the drawstay museum it consists of a few buildings of which this old jail complex this old prison is one of them oh wow yeah look at this it looks pretty old but very well preserved look at the building materials used over there hello hello is he all right how’s things you okay yeah i made a new friend here are you hungry i don’t have food i’ve only got a cappuccino i wish I could play with you but I’ve got some sites to see things to do here in Swell and Dum including visiting the old jail you can see there shortly after the draw day was built in 1747 a jail was constructed on the same property this is the second oldest jail in the country okay oh there’s a blue plaque here heritage South Africa Mary Alexander Cook in recognition of her pioneer work in identifying and conserving the old buildings of a Cape and especially those in Swandom where she lived for a number of years oh there you go someone’s having a fantastic time just relaxing hey good life you’ve got unlike the criminals who operated in this part of the world they would have felt the iron fist of law and order between the br and the jail anyways let’s go through here oh wow here’s a big anchor okay we got information there so go through here i love all this information it actually makes my job filming a lot easier means I can just read from the information board so you can see there farming was the chief occupation in this region oh it just talks there about the expansion of the complex and there you can see the trade yard the trades represented here were practiced in Swelland in the early years of European settlement it was here that provisions were purchased and repair to wagons and other equipment were made the creation of an ombarf is merely a convenient means to exhibit these trades and it is not meant to be a recreation of a historical site okay but anyways you do have some sort of layout you can see there various buildings for various trades the industries like wagon repair weed freshing milling and baking blacksmithing those industries have a complex history they reflect the skills and practices of pre-colonial indigenous communities those of a settler community as well as those of a town’s enslaved population who brought certain skills from their African and Asian countries of origin yeah so a complex history indeed yeah all these doors are open i could just walk in and I have to say for South Africa they’ve got a very relaxed stance to keeping doors open in swelland maybe that tells you something about the community yeah various artifacts here that they’ve preserved various tools of all different shapes and sizes yeah blood sweat and tears can you imagine what all these people went through they try to build a community they try to em better the lives of a population through their trades yeah listen to the birds yes we’ve got a lot of history but I just want to remind you that we are in a absolutely breathtakingly beautiful part of South Africa listen to the birds look at the nature the mountains and oh my gosh we do have a very interesting old implement here which has seen better days for sure yeah let’s check it out there’s a donkey over there as well yeah another one the donkey’s going for a bit of an afternoon stroll in Swell and why not because look at that absolutely brilliant yeah more about this i’m not a very techy person so if you know what this is or what this was let me know in the comments certainly looks like something that could have been used on a farm agriculture and yeah more of a beautiful thatch roofs it is a wonderful experience walking here in Swendam and I’ll say again I don’t know how many people bypass it when they travel on the N2 but I can absolutely recommend it as a place to visit it’s got everything it’s got the history it’s got nature it’s got friendly people what is there not to like and I can absolutely say with relative certainty that the community is very proud of their town as well it’s extraordinarily clean well that’s at least the case for the areas that I visited they take a lot of pride in what they do here anyway Tanner oh wow yes here’s a shoe stretcher an elaborate version of a screw operated distender and again various people from the community who have donated items and trinkets pieces of historical value this is absolutely incredible if you’re interested in the more technical side of things you can even read there about the tanning process in more detail you’ve got various other pieces of information about the contribution of locals but yes all these different trades all these different occupations they’ve contributed to Swell & Dum in some way shape or form what have we got there that building there looks interesting could that be an old oven yeah let’s have a look indeed an oven a kil a replica of a charcoal kilnapper fur a farm in the district they were pretty sizable yeah you can go that’s where the smoke goes obviously out and some people have called their names in there and that looks to have been an old water mill flashbacks to Ilim which we visited in another vlog that wheel was a little bit bigger than this one but nonetheless some water mold technology on display here in Spell and Dum as well all right okay temporarily not working they are maintaining it but yeah you can just see there some of the mechanics some of the engineering it always just blows my mind when I visit these old historic places the technology they used and all the obstacles they would have had back in the day but they succeeded in many ways and I guess this is a place for one of the workers or the engineers to sleep stay over yeah more of a technical details and plans for a water mill and on this side look there a bri area a kitchen wow life back in the day another shed another room here let’s have a look okay so this was for a carpenter you can see the draw knife over there various saws and one of those some liquids massive saw here you can see there that would have been more than one person operating that one for sure and some axes saw setting tools various bolts and screws it’s all rusted now but they all played their part in building something special at some point you know what this museum and I don’t mean this lightly but I think this is one of the best museums I visited in South Africa obviously the disclaimer there I don’t go into many but just the setup the atmosphere around it as well the friendly staff at the office i just want to say a massive thank you for showing me this museum yeah you didn’t do a lot but just to be in your presence that is much appreciated your highness oh we saw donkeys going for a stroll outside and there’s a donkey in reception here as well if you know more about donkeys in Swell & Dum let me know in the comments and also by the way if you haven’t done it yet please hit the like and subscribe buttons that really helps me out building the channel anyways onwards and upwards let’s walk down this beautiful treeline street yeah swell and dam i’m going to have a tough time saying goodbye to you that’s for sure country Delhi looks like they are very proud of homemade things in Swandom hello hello hello what’s your name evelyn evelyn McKenna some musli’s you’ve got some virgin olive oils honey you have a lots of bees in the region here in Swend and the biscuits and cookies wow and some of the breads there look at the old post box here and outside here we’ve got an old bicycle that person’s going nowhere but yeah what a beautiful garden here next to Republic you do have a boutique market here and they look pretty new pretty recent you can see they’re established 2022 yeah so let’s have a look at the shopping scene in Swalland Dum look at that are those baboons on a colorful couch some wallets and bags a variety of plants here used for decorations and there’s a mirror hi everyone hi Swell and Dump various cards oh and a variety of garments and shoes look at that the fellies the kids fells there how much 380 rand yeah this is what people in Swell & Dom wear look at this maxi dresses flowery scarlet dresses beautiful floral prints here as well willow dress 915 rand bilton boys here in Swendam let’s have a look check it there donkey long tong that is a long tong for sure various Bolton flavors they even got Wagyu look at that Namibian flavor got the Duavor some brilliant Africans products here kalahari bra here in the Wabar i’ve also got some lever products here let’s have a look yeah looks very organized lots of different types of bags and belts yeah if you wondered where we are we are in South Africa i’ve even got the struct look at that the bow tie 155 and various socks if you want to go and explore the nature around here you’ve got the Bontto Bok Park which is not far and yeah if you need some hydration you’ll be sorted out here as well some water bottles very interesting leather products this bag 1,590 rand looks very interesting various shoes some good quality genuine leather shoes here the fellies let’s just pick one out you can see there hunter Humzansi Red Soul 720 some friendly residents there hello anyways talking about residents and famous surnames I’ve been digging into some of the famous family names tied to Swell and Dum families who’ve been part of a town story for decades if not centuries and we’re talking the Moody’s who came all the way from Scotland the stains the strikers fundans Rothman’s Tomlinsons and the Duns and of course last but not least you have the Barrys who I mentioned earlier those names they pop up everywhere and they really form a big part of Swell & Dum’s story ah here we go beautiful bird hello the nature around here is just spectacular and more about the berries as we enter this beautiful garden in 1859 now that is of course the same year when Charles Darwin published his Origin of Species the company ordered a shiny new screw steamer all the way from Scotland it was called the SS Cardi that steamer held the barries to make regular trips from Cape Town to Port Bofort and then up the Breedria River to their inland depot at Molkas it was Swell & Dump’s golden age the Barry Empire was very successful certainly in the 1850s and early 1860s i believe they even had their own bank notes but then in 1865 there were a few events which dramatically altered the economic cause of swelland on 17 May 1865 there was a massive fire that swept through swelland and it destroyed much of a town and a lot of its early landmarks joseph Barry also passed away in 1865 and a third disaster the SS Cardi ran ground so 1865 was not the best year for swelland and ultimately the Barry Empire collapsed the following year in 1866 so the swelland golden age of the 1850s and60s it came to an end around 1866 if you know more about the history of that time and of swelland let me know in the comments it reminds me a little bit of the Stfan Empire along the West Coast carl Stfan who we learned about in Feldruff if you want to cut to the core of what makes Swell & Dam special look at this they have a wonderful sense of community remembering a grandson Jansen Stain this one in loving memory of Opan Omar Charlotte Miller and Carl Albert Shrader and you can go on and on so a garden of remembrance for people of the area people who have contributed and loved ones oh look here they’ve even got a street named after the first president of a republic Armana Stain and the Mavville is also down there you can see the museum open this historic part of Swell & Dami is very well preserved i say they’re open maybe they not but again national monument okay it looks like it’s shut let’s have a look it looks shut maybe that’s a cue for us to continue elsewhere let’s just have a sneak preview here looks like a beautiful dining area there sometimes as a vlogger decisions are made for you you can’t see everything in a place when you’re on a day trip it just simply means we’re going to have to explore something else yeah it looks like a guest house but it also looks like a place selling coffee breakfast drinks light meals etc more establishments here I guess more of a industrial and commercial side here upholstery and blinds just noticed opposite the road here they do have a honey gift shop looks shut at the moment but yeah bee things i think I can make out swell and dumb written there there’s a few motorcycles delivering shopping to people a few cars but not too many very nice relaxing vibe loads of oak trees here in Swendam and we learned that Yan Farfaria brought them to South Africa and today they add a magnificent touch to our towns don’t you think now I just love all these old Dutch style buildings that have been converted into restaurants other establishments you can see here restaurant and tea garden wow 40 vid target not sure what that means but you’ve even got a foundation stone here let’s have a look here 1924 regular visitors on our terrace look at all the birds in the area here as well lots of flora and fauna oh and they do have a gift shop here and how’s this for a light giraav for 250 south African flag key rings 65 rand right crossing a bridge here 1960 over a river i’m not sure if this is the Bria River i know there’s another one here in Swallandom yeah how peaceful and tranquil is that the sound of water in fact the name of a river is over there let’s not second guess it ah yes Quiran Lance the Quiran Lance River the Bria River of course flows through the town as well so maybe that’s in another part but you’ll struggle to find better surroundings than this swell and DOM written with some stones here swell & Dum by the way I’ve noticed some of the street names here you’ve got Swellen Street over there of course Swellen the first part of the name Swell & Dam and over there you’ve got Free Street presumably Fer maybe that’s just a typo oh there we go 1858 yes indeed lofta yeah I got a feeling we’re approaching the CBD the heart of a town yeah more magnificent guest houses and cottages i get the feeling they rely on tourism quite a bit in this part of the world yeah beautiful windows another fetch roof yes we are approaching the church i can see it behind here indeed there’s a church square car plane this square is part of a history of swell and dump in days gone by it was the market square where people from the outlying district could outstand their horses and carts when attending church or spending a weekend in their town houses which are to your right okay so over there so I guess they are nmal aces i think that’s a good African word in the 18th and 19th century in South Africa it was quite common for people to travel to towns to attend church especially if they lived on farms or in far remote areas and because of the time and the distances involved they would often stay for a whole weekend in one of these houses or the Males here we go the crown jewel of Swallandom the dates here 1802 and 1911 oh that’s interesting i’ve read that the congregation was established in 1798 maybe that’s just the date associated with a church let’s have a look oh they look closed the building is temporarily closed for painting and construction yeah that is a shame i would have loved to visit the church maybe we can get some information here okay so the congregation was founded in 1798 as I said the old church building dates from 1802 and the present church building is from 1911 okay there we go maybe we can get an idea ah no it’s shut i thought maybe we can get an idea of gravestones and the individuals from the other side but I’ll give you a little sneak peek here yes the swell and dumb Dutch Reformed Church i wonder how many national monuments there are in Swallandom there certainly are a lot and they are all magnificent so the church is behind that tree over there there’s another interesting building there it looks like the church office and on this side of the road you do have Barry House the original store and bank barry and Nephew 1846 okay oh so this was a Barry building indeed there barry store 1846 yeah going around here and it looks like it’s an art gallery nowadays yeah gallery artery looks shut at the moment yeah beautiful building here in Swalenom and beautiful gardens beautiful plants flora seven and six so presumably these are different rooms there’s a perfumery another sign there barry Bank yeah so there we go you can come and get your Barry bank notes here so many nice places to come and eat and drink you can see here Grayson Mercy or Merci a bit of a French touch here let’s have a look here oh wow immediate first impressions look at the beautiful light here and you’ve got some shortbreads cookies various biscuits you can see the prices there they all They all look homemade hi hello and some coffees i get the feeling that people in Swalland are very proud of their locally produced goods you can see there preserved guavas preserved peaches yeah some very interesting things as well some spoons and ladles how’s this for a name anibrant original spice sauce that’s brilliant here you have a monument commemorating the coronation of King George V on the 22nd of June 1911 King George the Fifth of course the grandfather of Elizabeth let’s have a look what is behind here yeah opening all right nothing there and I guess the CBD of Swallandum it’s very quiet because it’s a Sunday but you can get an idea of the activities in the town there’s a garage selling some vehicles wow not every day you see this a stock theft unit or spell i think that says a lot and you’ve got more establishments here petrol station supermarket we got a mall there colton Mall another big supermarket there and all right here’s an interesting building i think this is the oldfang house so practice house or the place where freed slaves they would get some education it’s always building okay now it’s a charity shop a charity shop they just give you the people that are poor like something yeah yeah yeah yeah oh yes there we go there’s a clock look there’s the Ah 188 yeah thank you sir appreciate it man big pleasure big pleasure yeah cuz I’m making a YouTube of swand i’m just like to say to you man that you’re welcome to my outdoor office man thank you very much man appreciate it hello Disa the people here and Julius okay Julius i’m Vill nice to meet you this one man the people from a charity shop now we’ve got another church there’s a church let me go and show you okay come and show you yeah i just want to show first for the people here you can see what’s interesting about this building is because it was used by many illiterate people they’ve got two clocks there for the people who could not read clocks they’ve got two clocks there at the top so you can see quarter 12 and if a clock at the bottom read 12 the people knew it was time to pray anyways let’s get out of here let’s go back to my accommodation and I’ll show you where I’m staying now we’re passing another beautiful church here look at that and I guess we are a little bit off the beaten track as well so we’ll get some more insights into Swell & Dom looks to be the police station here oh the community service so separate from the theft of animals and you’ve got standard bank building here and uh seven here hi you can see what a beautiful town Swalen is with all the treeline streets looks to be some council offices back from 1939 council chambers yeah definitely a relaxed touch here what have we got hidden dragon hidden dragons venue okay wonderland Trail something to come and do not sure if it’s open but this caught my eye here pick and pit oh brilliant discount for birds and I guess a playing area for kids yeah more beautiful architecture so hidden dragon wonder what this is about certainly looks like an interesting walking trail no cycles no motorcycles so no noise encouraged in this part of a town use the brereech at own risk okay yeah it’s just something about the sound of water that is so healing for the soul yeah there we go and the beautiful mountain as well i reckon it’s another 5 minutes or so to my accommodation and I’m showing you a little bit of the residential side here in Swalenom fisser Street there you go there’s another cat is that the same cat from the museum almost looks like it anyways give you an idea of how people live here in Swallandom it’s always interesting to see look at the beautiful post box there nice pink coral color there looks to be a school over there and more houses more beautiful birds swell & Dam I like you i like you a lot certainly from what I could see I think this must be a really nice place to live and you are maybe a little bit far from Cape Town for a weekend break for some but I can certainly tell you that I found it a wonderful experience i love a combination of history community interesting businesses beautiful nature i can absolutely recommend Swelland as a place to visit oh yeah we’ve got more of a sports grounds of a school and the Mist Street interesting name yeah there we go i need to get up there to DS day street the same street where the DS day was so I’ve actually taken you on a bit of a loop here in Swallandum and it’s an interesting time of a day as well with the sun and yeah some noisy residence hello right right everyone let me show you where I’m staying i’m not staying in the pool but I think I might have a dip after a long day of vlogging and this shed is also a communal space i’ll give you a a look here you can see their tables there’s a kitchen with cutlery and glasses there’s a fridge you’ve got some interesting art and artifacts there some beautiful touches here look at the flowers the giraffes and yeah even the teaspoons here they are quite interesting and yes obviously going out here there’s the pool and I am staying on top there before we go there let me show you more of a garden people in South Africa they do love their gardens and of course this area they do have some interesting plants here you go the pro tier which is a national flower of South Africa you’ve got more rooms on that side though i’ve not noticed them and various corners here where you can come and sit and have a coffee or a cigarette if you’re a smoker and you can enjoy a beautiful view through there this is the life isn’t it check this view unbelievable a mountain view there’s even a plane flying in the distance there wonder where they going and yes we are also saying goodbye to Swalendum we’ve got an exciting adventure ahead the N2 and I wonder where that will take me on this trip i think this has been a very good start to my next series of vlogs here in South Africa and here is my room let’s have a look you can see a beautiful double bed you’ve got some chairs here you’ve got an ironing board there’s a wardrobe i’ve got a microwave a little fridge i’ve got various cupboards here various plates and forks and knives other cutlery there they’ve got two kettles they’ve got a toaster you’ve got some glasses over there look SA Rugby their priorities yeah they are straight you’ve got a cafeteria and yes I had some rusks for breakfast this morning but they even gave us some rusks and some complimentary teas and coffees wash basin over there yeah wonderful room got a TV and obviously waking up to a mountain view like that that is pretty special I would say there’s a nice desk area for me to edit some videos in case I needed to and here is the bathroom very spacious there’s the shower you’ve got the wash basin and then you’ve got the L over there i paid approximately £54 or 1,34 rand for this room for two nights all right I think now is a good time to relax for a little bit after a long day of filming let me know what you thought of Swell and Dumb our first stop here on the N2 road trip that I’m going to do yeah when I say N2 I don’t mean that I will just be on the N2 i will in fact make a detour or turn off to some interesting places along the coast for example but hopefully I can cover quite a distance so buckle up everyone and join me on this N2 trip an unforgettable journey here in South Africa hit the notifications bell so that you know when I post new videos please subscribe to the channel if you haven’t already and like this video also share it with friends and family leave a comment for me let me know what you thought of Swell and Dumb for now I just want to say again thanks for watching my videos and I’m going to see you in the next one cheers take it easy so when they did when people from the immediate countryside so when people from the farms around towns visited so when people travel to the church

Hi everyone! Join me as I explore Swellendam, one of the oldest and most charming towns in South Africa’s Western Cape. Situated on the scenic N2 highway between Cape Town and George, Swellendam lies in the beautiful Breede River Valley and is a historic hub known for its Cape Dutch architecture, rich heritage, and thriving farming community. Whether you’re into South African history, local culture, or just looking for things to do in beautiful Swellendam, this vlog has you covered.

The vlog starts with me walking towards the Drostdy, near the town’s entrance. The Dutch East India Company played a key part in the establishment and the development of the town, which is the third oldest in South Africa. In 1747, they built the Drostdy – the official home for the local magistrate and administrative center for the new district. I walk around the gardens and explain that the town was named after the Cape governor Hendrik Swellengrebel and his wife, Helena ten Damme. For context, since the beginning of the 18th century, many farmers were drifting east of Cape Town and Stellenbosch. Around 1734, a small outpost with eight men of which one was the corporal was set up at ‘Rietvalley aan de Buffelsjacht Rivier’ for the protection of farmers travelling in the region. However, managing the frontier farmers who were quite independent proved to be a bit tricky with just a handful of resources running the outpost. And that was the background to how Swellendam saw the light in the 1740s. It also became a prominent commercial hub with traders, blacksmiths and wainwrights. I give a tour of this magnificent museum showcasing various elements of life back in those days. I also visit some exhibition rooms featuring various wagons.

Next, whilst walking in the Drostdy Garden, I explain the significance of Joseph Barry and the contribution he made to the town. He visited the region in 1819 and later settled permanently in the area. In the early 19th century, Swellendam town was tiny – just one store – and most supplies had to be hauled over the mountains by travelling salesmen. Barry thought outside the box: why not ship goods along the coast to the mouth of the Breede River, then cart them by ox-wagon to Swellendam? Things go so well that Barry sets up a depot at the river mouth and calls it Port Beaufort. Barry’s little trading venture takes off, and by 1824 he’s made Swellendam his home. Over the next decade, Barry rides the highs and lows of business, but in 1834, he teams up with his nephews, Thomas and John. Together, they build an empire – Barry & Nephews. By the 1850s, their branches stretch across the Overberg, Cape Town, and even all the way to London. With markets opening up, farmers boost production, and the whole region thrives.

I then explain that Swellendam was a republic for a brief period in 1795, and visit the restaurant with the same name where I grab a coffee and notice some interesting features of the restaurant. When a republic, Swellendam even picked their own president: Hermanus Steyn. After a caffeine kick, I continue to explore the town and visit the Old Jail complex and the Trade Yard, where I gain further perspectives into life in Swellendam in previous centuries.

I then explore more of the shops of the area, talk about the influential families that helped shaped Swellendam and talk about why 1865 was a tragic year for the Barry & Nephews empire and Swellendam more generally. On 17 May 1865, a massive fire swept through Swellendam, destroying much of the town and a lot of its early landmarks. Joseph Barry also died in 1865, and the stearmer SS Kadie ran aground in the same year. Losing the SS Kadie was a huge blow – not just for the Barry family but for everyone in the Overberg. Farmers suddenly lost their fast and reliable way to get their produce to market. Without the Kadie, they had to go back to slower, tougher overland routes. This was a major setback for the region and marked the start of a decline in Swellendam’s trading glory.

I continue to explore the town and visit the Dutch Reformed Church and Barry House, one of the former premises of the Barry & Nephews venture. I also stroll in the central business district and meet a local before I head to my accommodation, walking through some residential areas and enjoying the quiet side of the town. At my accommodation, I give a tour of my room and give further details on some of my plans for my upcoming trip.

I hope you enjoy this vlog on Swellendam! If you haven’t done it yet, please hit the LIKE and SUBSCRIBE buttons and leave a COMMENT for me in the comments section.

Happy exploring!

Willie