Drostdy Hotel

posted : 2010-06-22 at 03:22:11

Having spent most of the summer on the wonderful beaches of the Eastern Cape my family and I decided that we wanted to experience something different. We all love the outdoors but also enjoy the comfort of a soft mattress, sparkling bathroom and a well-laid table. We also didn’t want to spend too much time in the SUV as the domino effect of impatience starts with the youngest and soon reaches yours truly. Choosing Graaff-Reinet as a destination was an easy decision and, as a temporary place of residence, the Drostdy was our first choice. 

Graaff-Reinet, named after the wife of a Dutch governor of the Cape, was the first magisterial district in the Eastern Cape and the location chosen for the magisterial court, the Drostdy. Work began on the Drostdy in 1795 but the building was only completed in 1806, thus making this National Monument the second oldest building in the province after Fort Frederick in Port Elizabeth. In 1977 De Oude Meester Group bought the building and turned it into a beautiful hotel. 

The rich history of the hotel is found in the massive yellowwood floors, antique furniture and huge brass chandeliers which, with their candlelit splendour, envelop the dining room in a romantic atmosphere. The smell of wax polish, on entering reception, brought back happy memories from my childhood. 

Our room was located in Stretch’s Court, the old slave quarters that now form part of the hotel. These rooms are a far cry from what they must have been in the nineteenth century and the huge beds and marble, granite and stainless steel bathrooms more than met our expectations. Just outside our door was a small garden with a fish pond. The kids played to their hearts’ content while my wife and I relaxed under the shade of the palm trees. 

Each morning began with a substantial breakfast from the well-laden buffet table, followed by a stroll around the town. Graaff-Reinet has more National Monuments than any other town in South Africa and it was obvious that the residents were proud of their history, with every home and business boasting its rich heritage with fresh coats of paint and neat gardens. 

The Drostdy is centrally situated so all the attractions are within easy walking distance. The five women in my family loved the antique stores, each of which had as many interesting artifacts as the wealth of museums found in this wonderful town. During the heat of the day we relaxed around the pool, G&T’s and cokes in hand. In the late afternoon we visited the surrounding Camdeboo National Park and picnicked at the top of the Valley of Desolation with its magnificent view of the vast plains of Camdeboo. 

Perhaps the highlight of the week was the candlelit dinner that my love and I shared beneath the starry sky in the fragrant garden. The children were safely tucked away in dreamland and the peace of the huge Karoo sky descended upon us as we shared this quiet moment in each other’s company, sipping on champagne and enjoying a delicious meal of lamb and sole. 

Our stay in Graaff-Reinet and in particular, at the Drostdy, was enjoyed by all and we look forward to returning.