A beautiful historical town, and I have also included some videos.
So, why should you visit Tulbagh? Come and let me show you.
This is my first post in #worldmappin, after I eventually figured that it works the same as the old pinmapple, so lets give it a go.
The town of Tulbagh and its surrounds will blow your mind, especially after you have watched the video at the end of the post.
It felt like we had stepped back in history as we entered this town. Now we have been to many towns throughout South Africa and the Western Cape Province, but this one seemed to hold the aura of a time long past. It was almost as if the people hadn't realized that things had changed in the rest of the country, and the world. And they were living each day at a certain pace, in a certain way. Both free and time-warped at the same time. Free from the rest of the world's chaos and as you will see very upmarket in the beauty of the surrounds.
A strange feeling indeed!
Here you can see the only road into the town, and valley.
Our first stop was the historic Church Street, full of museums, historical buildings, and even a community garden.
After we paid the entry fee for a tour, a lady led us into this old church.
And then the lady opened this hanging box on the wall inside the entrance. She explained that she would play some music to guide us on our tour inside the church.
Have you ever heard a Symphonion playing? What an old marvel. (My own video)
I was so taken by this music box that I did some research and here is the result below.
Symphonion, Fabrik Lochmannscher Musikwerke, AG
Braustrassw 13-19, Leipzig-Gohlis, Germany
The Symphonion Company started business in 1885 and produced the first disc-playing musical box. Its founders were Oscar Paul Lochmann and two partners: Gustave Brachhausen and Paul Riessner. Within two years however, these two men had left to set up the Polyphon company that made similar machines in competition to the original firm. In 1889 the Symphonion firm became a public limited liability company or Aktiengesellschaft, with stock exchange listed shares.
The stairs the choir members used to use in days long gone. So far back, that we were told that the stairs are out of use and not open to climb due to their age.
Tulbagh
The basin has been inhabited for thousands of years by indigenous Bushmen and Khoi-San peoples. It was about 300 years ago when, after a land grant by the Dutch Colonial Government to a more or less equal number of Dutch and Huguenot settlers to settle the area, that the town of Tulbagh was founded. The region was named "Land van Waveren" in 1699 by Willem Adriaan van der Stel in honour of the Oetgens van Waveren family, from which his mother was descended. Before this date, but also subsequent to it, the region had also been known as Roodezand ("red sand"). The region corresponds to the present Tulbagh district, named after Governor Ryk Tulbagh. The town developed slowly and over time and in the period many notable examples of Cape Dutch architecture, Victorian and Edwardian houses and other buildings such as the Oude Kerk (1743) and the Oude Drosdy (the original colonial Magistrate's complex) were built.
Right, now let's drive around in the town to see what we can find. Lots of classic cars and heritage houses.
And finally, here's a video below that I found on YouTube to show you the surrounds of Tulbagh. You just have to watch this.
Oh yes, I took many photos, as we also visited the graveyard and the town's community vegetable garden, but sadly our visit was way too short, as we could only spend a bit more than half a day in the town. But of course, we will visit the town again for a longer period in the future, as the three mountains around the town have a hold on my heart. That Valley of Abundance is also calling out to us for a future visit. We will also love to visit the series of waterfalls shown in the video above, but when we have more time, as our work at Papillon keeps us very busy.
I forgot to mention that this trip was our visit to the town of Ceres, and if you want then I will show you the transport museum at Ceres, as it is also an amazing eyeful.
So, for now, I hope that you have enjoyed the pictures and the videos.
Photos and the Symphonion video by Zac Smith-All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon PowershotSX70HS Bridge camera.
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