Travelling on the N2 highway, a very familiar route for most to take between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, before this road was built, Route 62 was used as the primary road between the two cities. A short drive from Cape Town, Route 62 is the longest wine route in the world and this unique journey is graced with quaint little towns along the way. With only one confirmed COVID case in and around the five towns in the Langeberg area, you can be sure that this route won’t only quench your thirst for scenery, but is also one of the safest places.

Driving through the Kogmanskloof between the mountains connecting the town of Ashton with Montagu, one passes through an arch created by the landscape. If Montagu sounds familiar, it may be because this is where Montagu Dried Fruits was founded.

The most unique and relaxing stay in this little town is undoubtedly at the Montagu Country Hotel, a founding member of Cape Country Routes. Everything from the parking area to your first step through reception is designed in retro vintage opulence. You will have no doubt never been in a building as unique and spontaneous as this one; it is simply one of a kind and totally fabulous.

Every feature in the hotel, from the couches in the formal sitting room and the grand piano to the dining area into the front, has been beautifully layered with retro flair. A welcome drink greets you in the entrance as you take the staircase up to the landing. Even here, on the landing above the stairs, it is furnished with original retro décor and an original 1920s mannequin dressed in the fashion of the time. The theme carries all the way down the hallway into the bedroom.

As we open the doors, a familiar pattern appears on the bed—a feature seen all over the hotel that ties every single room together beautifully. Our corner bedroom, with windows framing the stunning mountains that line this little town, is adorned in the same retro pattern everywhere you turn, with the soft sounds of the bustling town underneath us. We take in the sounds as they last for only a few short hours before the town falls quiet and still, allowing us to enjoy sundowners on the front deck by the hotel’s stylish and well-stocked bar.

Montagu Country Hotel has so much to offer that it truly deserves more than a few days to take full advantage of the facilities. The hotel features a well-groomed colourful garden, two swimming pools, a luxurious spa, and a hair salon. The hotel spa not only offers massages and facials, but a unique experience: mineral water straight from the mountains surrounding the town is heated in the pipes en route to a jacuzzi inside the spa for your relaxing pleasure. Spend an hour in the jacuzzi with a glass of wine and take advantage of the health benefits offered by the warm, soft bubbles on your skin.

One of the most outstanding features at Montagu Country Hotel has to be the American Dream Car experience (also a member of Cape Country Routes). The experience offers the option to travel in a 1956 Cadillac Sedan DeVille or a gutsy 1964 Cadillac Sedan DeVille. The ride is so unique that even the townspeople stop to take pictures as you casually drive by. Driven by the hotel’s owner, PJ Basson, between his humour and candour, we are given a lesson on how the town was formed, its history, and its significance along Route 62. Just outside the outskirts of the town, the views in this region continue to stun and impress.

From the staff, who personally handled our requests and began to feel like good friends, to the authentic décor, furnishings, and design, Montagu Country Hotel needs to be experienced. It really is more than just a casual drop-off point; it encompasses everything needed for a comfortable stay in a great location. The staff went as far as making sure we didn’t miss a meal in the morning by calling to check when we would be ready for them to serve.

If you’re looking for something different, personal, and special, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, the Montagu Country Hotel will surely satisfy your every desire—not only for peace and stillness, but for unique experiences and culture.

W: Cape Country Routes
A: 27 Bath Street, Montagu, Western Cape, South Africa
W: Montagu Country Hotel
T: +27 23 614 3125

Written by Merlize Jogiat for Luxuria Lifestyle South Africa