Cottage 1865, Historic Franschhoek farm

Cottage 1865, Boschendal – sleeps up to 10

With majestic views of the surrounding mountains, valley and Boschendal farm, a private swimming pool, rooms to sleep up to 10 guests, and a dedicated Butler, Rhodes’ Cottage and its Annex are a stunningly secluded, and truly relaxed, nod to a by-gone era.

Built as the country escape for one of South Africa’s most notorious colonial leaders, Cecil John Rhodes, this white-washed farm cottage and converted annex are a simple and intimate, yet elegant nod to a time when butlers served tea and pre-dinner drinks on deep verandas overlooking vast landscapes. A sense of colonial grandeur filters through the cottage with its period furniture, polished wooden floors, Africana artworks, animal trophies and books, and dedicated butler, but this is all off-set by the cottage’s intimate simplicity and quirky touches.

Rhodes Cottage is equidistant from the historic University town of Stellenbosch and the wine farms, galleries, shops and fine-dining restaurants of Franschhoek.

Bedrooms at Rhodes Cottage

The main cottage has 3 bedrooms: 1 x queen bed, 1 x twin bed, and 1 x king or twin bed.
The main cottage has two large bedrooms inside, plus an additional bedroom, known as the Butler’s room, set off the back courtyard. The main bedroom is home to an ornate wooden four-poster bed (queen-sized) and period armoire, while the second bedroom has twin singles that can be made up into a king on request. These two rooms share a bathroom with shower, loo and basin. Each bedroom has a washbasin, air-conditioning and pure cotton linen. The Butler’s room, with its breath-taking view of the Simonsberg mountains, also consists of twin beds which can be made up into a king-sized bed. Its separate bathroom is just across the courtyard and contains a deep, black oval bathtub, his and her vanity and loo. Each bathroom has underfloor heating and heated towel rails.

Living and dining at Rhodes Cottage

A delicious breakfast is included, prepared by Rhodes Cottage’s dedicated “anything is possible” butler, Francois. Your meals can be taken wherever you choose: breakfast with freshly squeezed fruit juice on the picturesque front veranda, lunch under the trees in the garden, share a cheese platter on a lounger next to the pool, barbecue (braai) under the trees or stars, take morning tea in a rosemary-scented back courtyard with views straight up into the Simonsberg mountains, or seat 10 for dinner at the period dining table in the main cottage’s formal dining room.

With a fully-equipped farmhouse kitchen and pantry, and access to fresh fruit, veggies and meat products straight off Boschendal you have everything you need to create wonderful meals, although with two restaurants, a deli and of course, Francois to hand, you need never step foot in the kitchen. Instead you can relax on the stoep as the sun sets, or in front of the open fire with a glass of Boschendal’s finest in the cottage’s cozy, period sitting room.

The Annex at Rhodes Cottage

The Annex has 2 ensuite bedrooms: 1 x king and 1 x king or twin bed
Although it cannot be rented individually, the Annex is a completely separate two-bedroomed cottage with its own living area, kitchenette, veranda and garden space. Converted from an original farm outbuilding, the annex has retained its working-farm heritage with thick stone walls, exposed beams, an inter-leading double wooden door, period furniture and flagstone-style floors.

The open-plan kitchen / living area is made up of a small kitchenette, with bar fridge-freezer unit, electric hob, toaster, kettle and dining table for four; as well as a cozy sitting area with open fireplace, sofa, armchairs and zebra-skin rug, all of which opens out onto a small, private veranda overlooking the ‘games lawn’.

The Annex sleeps four in two large bedrooms, both with ensuite bathrooms. The first bedroom’s twin singles can be made up into a king-sized bed. The generous bathroom has an enormous double shower, and beautiful claw-foot bathtub as well as loo and his and hers vanity. The second bedroom contains a king-sized bed, armoire and beautiful views over the ‘games’ garden. Its ensuite bathroom also contains a claw-foot bathtub, his and her vanity, loo and a single shower.

Both the main cottage and the annex have cosy, fire-side sitting rooms, and covered patios with outdoor eating spaces. Both are surrounded by private, treed gardens with plenty of garden furniture for eating and relaxing, as well as the private swimming pool: set in a walled-off area, the large lap pool with adjacent pond boast some of the best views in the valley.

 

Rates

Per Night12 500,00

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