Stellenbosch Museum | 1 Erfurthuis 37 Ryneveld Street, Stellenbosch Central, Stellenbosch, 7599, Western Cape

The Stellenbosch Village Museum currently comprises of four houses of historical interest and their gardens. Each of these beautiful homes represents a different period in the architectural development of Stellenbosch. The houses, their interiors and their gardens have been wonderfully restored, furnished, planted and decorated to illustrate the particular style and taste of the time. The first house the museum has restored is the Schreuderhuis. This home was built in 1709, and it survived the first great fire in Stellenbosch. Schreuderhuis is the oldest restored and documented town house in the whole of South Africa. The interior furnishing and the garden are typical of a Stellenbosch home from the period of 1680 to 1720, in true pioneer spirit much of the furniture was made from locally available materials. The strings of onions, herbs and salted fish hanging from the rafters, the open hearth in the kitchen and the primitive Cape furniture lend a special charm to this dwelling. You will notice that there is sharp contrast to the handsome appointments of later, more opulent homes. In true pioneer spirit much of the furniture was made from locally available materials.