Sutherland Telescope

Sutherland may be famous as one of the coldest places in South Africa, but it is also home to some spectacular historical sites as well as a global observatory.

Dutch Reformed Church:

The church was designed by NG Charles Freeman who also designed the Dutch Reformed Church in Graaff Reinet, and Standard Bank in Cape Town. During the Anglo Boer War, the church was invaded for 8 months by British troops. Filled to capacity, it can accommodate 1,200 people.

Church Tuinplaas:

When farmers move their flocks to the cold zone Roggeveld Karoo, they have a common once a year to church Tuinplaas 55 km on the road Matjiesfontein.

Louw Museum:

The two most famous poets and writers NP van Wyk Louw Afrikaans and WEG Louw were born in this very house. Together, they won 6 awards Hertzog for literacy. Several other exhibitions are also interesting to see the Museum Louw.

Road Star:

Skirting for the nine planets of the solar system have been built across the main road or highway Planetarium, representing the size of the sun relative to the size of planets and also the distance between planets. Artisan of the local community dressed stone.

English Cemetery:

The most interesting tomb in the cemetery of the English is that of a soldier drowned in a flash flood. He gave a common grave and after the war, the British government sent a Military Cross and a second grave was made. The soldier has been buried twice. The Jewish cemetery is also worth visiting.

Sutherland and the surrounding area offer many unusual places, scenes and events to entertain and amaze all travelers.

18 km from the city you can enjoy the site of seven telescopes at the observatory, one being the "salt" (Southern African Large Telescope), which has the largest single optical telescope in the southern hemisphere. With this telescope you can see a candle flame on the moon. It has a diameter of mirror 11 meters.

Ouberg Pass has a good vantage point on the escarpment of the mountain Roggeveld 45 km from the city westward. We can see the mountains Ceres Karoo about 200 km.

Fransplaas sheep cheese (quite a name!) Is that the sheep cheese in the country about 50 km from the city in the Calvinia direction. sheep's milk cheese is definitely an acquired taste - be bold and do as the Australians do!

The flower Koornlandskloof Tulips at the end of September, a great site filled with color and worth a visit. Hiking and biking trails are also available with enough clean, inexpensive accommodations.

Skurweberg, Verlatenkloof Banksgate and 4 a— 4 farms have exciting off-road trails and hiking and biking trails with ample accommodation and beautiful scenery. Sterboom, ryegrass, the feet of elephants and flowers are some of Veld endangered species of flora is found in this area.

Salpeterkop, the last active volcano south of the equator is located near the observatory. He was active 66 million years ago. Seismologically Japanese found that Sutherland and its surroundings are quieter today the world!

On the Ezeljaht farm, 20 km from the city, you can enjoy a scenic two day hike, the trail called Silhouette.

From Matjiesfontein was driving the winding 15 km Verlatenkloof Pass climbing almost a 1000 meters. It was designed by Thomas Bain, the son of the famous Bain, who built the neck Bainskloof near Wellington.