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‘Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life’
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A sense of magical realism, of falling with Alice into Wonderland, or flying with Peter Pan into Neverland, pervades a stay at Le Grand Jardin in Stellenbosch’s peaceful Devon Valley. Le Grand Jardin’s calling card is its extensive garden, an artistic canvas of sorts – an escape designed to delight children as well as adults, the owners’ collections ranging from South African artworks to a vintage 1930s fairground carousel and showman’s caravan in the meadow. Nearby a pirate outpost overlooks a lily pond, in the middle of which is an eco-swimming pool. ‘If your kids are happy, you can relax – that’s the philosophy,’ says owner, Sue Fontannaz.
The sense of discovery enjoyed in the gardens flows into the manor house, the architect a student of Sir Herbert Baker interpreting the Arts and Crafts movement along generous lines. The garden serves as inspiration for the home’s interior aesthetic. The walls of the double-volume entrance hall, covered in De Gournay ‘Amazonia’ wallpaper, act as an exuberant welcome and invitation to enjoy the garden that offers an intimate private world of escape. There’s a playful reflection of the garden squirrels in the study, which finds its expression in a red ‘Kirkwood’ wallpaper by Thibaut. The main en-suite bedroom offers a wild celebration of Henri Rousseau’s jungle scenes, crafted by African Sketchbook, an enterprise working with self-taught artists from local communities. The In Full Bloom suite showcases a wall of giant blooms from Cara Saven Wall Design’s ‘She’s No Wallflower’. Other designs include the green and blue pomegranates of ‘Carnival’ by Christopher Farr and the bright ‘Portofino’ range by Thibaut, while a sense of play is illustrated in Ardmore’s Savuti design for Cole & Son, which brings monkeys, chameleons and birds inside the Into the Wild Garden suite.
As your eyes tune into the quieter elegance of the living and dining room, the art collection of South African landscapes and portraits comes into focus – Alexander Rose-Innes and Sydney Carter, Gregoire Boonzaier, Adriaan Boshoff are a few of the artists on the walls, who capture Sue’s memories of growing up in Africa. A Robert Leggat bronze of meerkats peeks out through a living room window, and a collection of Linnware delights the eye on the deep verandah.
The blue bar, decorated around a striking triptych by Lionel Smit, is a warm adult sanctuary, while kids of all ages are overjoyed at discovering Tintin’s rocket and vintage ride-in cars in one of the pool pavilion bedrooms, where also hangs Jürgen Schadeberg’s iconic 1956 photograph of musician Hugh Masekela with the trumpet given to him by Louis Armstrong. A fabulous Victorian-style glass house built around an ancient oak tree seems designed for entertaining and makes a glamorous backdrop for impromptu outdoor movie screenings. You’ll discover so many more delights - pizza oven, spa, Jacuzzi, secret tunnel, ice cream trolley and more, that it’s easy to forget about the outside world, and even the attractions of nearby Stellenbosch might not tear you away from this mesmerising wonderland of alternate reality.
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15
Guests
6
Bedrooms
6
En-suite bathrooms
Adjacent bathroom
Rates from
40 400
ZAR
per night*
No items found.
No items found.
Manor House: 7 guests (6 adults and one child)
Pavilion House: 8 guests
Sleeps 15 in 6 en-suite bedrooms
• Private use of the 700 sqm of living space
• 5 acres of wild garden to explore
• Solar-heated pool and adjacent summer house
• Victorian-style glasshouse
• Natural dam with eco-pool and zip line
• Carousel and showman's caravan
• State-of-the-art security system
• Use of the steam room, Jacuzzi and gym
MANOR HOUSE (sleeps up to 7)
Downstairs
• Entrance hall with guest toilet
• Formal dining room (seats 10 and
has a fireplace)
• Blue gin bar and tasting room with
private cellar
• Drawing room/study/library with fireplaces
• Fully equipped kitchen
Upstairs
• Media room: large screen television
• Three en-suite bedrooms (1 king-size, 2 doubles and 1 single bed) with private balconies
POOL PAVILION (sleeps up to 8)
Upstairs
• Two en-suites:
Rockit Family Suite (1 king and 2 singles) opens onto pool area (not suitable for very young children)
In Full Bloom (1 king) with fully equipped kitchen and bar area
Downstairs
• One en-suite bedroom:
Into the Wild (1 queen) with private patio
EXCLUSIVE USE (sleeps up to 15)
Both the Manor House and Pavilion must
be booked exclusively in peak season.
The Victorian-style glasshouse is available for special events and small weddings
(off-peak only, or with 7-night booking in peak season).
Staff & Services
INCLUDED
• Welcome drink
• Housekeeping
• Guest host available throughout each stay
• Unlimited Wi-Fi
• Parking
• Pantry supplies (basics)
• Use of steam room, Jacuzzi and gym
EXCLUDED
• Laundry
• Meals and drinks
AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
• Farm-style lunches
• Private wine tastings
• Pizza evenings or traditional 'braai'
• Spa treatments and yoga sessions
• Hikes and cycling routes
• Outdoor movie nights
• Pre-stocked fridge on arrival
Advance notice required:
• Other activities and excursions
• Babysitting and au pair
• Private chef
• Dry cleaning
• Personal security
• Personal shopping
• Personal trainer
• Spa and beauty treatments
• Wine tasting and some of the best restaurants in South Africa are all nearby or in the historic town of Stellenbosch itself. Art and walking tours can be arranged with insiders who will explore Stellenbosch's lesser known delights.
• Visit the new satellite Norval gallery Boschendal Wine Estate, stay for lunch or browse its new shop and deli.
• Visit the Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden up in the mountains between Stellenbosch and Somerset West. Allow at least two hours – truly spectacular in spring when the wild pear is blossoming, or in the late afternoon.
• Take a drive and explore other family friendly farms such as Babylonstoren and Bosjes, both known for their architecture and design ethos, and for the 7ha kitchen garden at Babylonstoren. Or head into Cape Town for the day - it's an easy 35 minute drive.
• Art tours may be organised: share your interests with us and we'll curate a personal itinerary for you or connect you with experts.
• Check in 14h00
• Check out 10h00
• Maximum 15 guests in both houses (only bookable as exclusive use in peak season)
• No pets allowed
• Non-smoking
• Security deposit
• All bookings subject to final approval by owner
• Minimum 7-night stay in peak season
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Manor House: 7 guests (6 adults and one child)
Pavilion House: 8 guests
Sleeps 15 in 6 en-suite bedrooms
• Private use of the 700 sqm of living space
• 5 acres of wild garden to explore
• Solar-heated pool and adjacent summer house
• Victorian-style glasshouse
• Natural dam with eco-pool and zip line
• Carousel and showman's caravan
• State-of-the-art security system
• Use of the steam room, Jacuzzi and gym
MANOR HOUSE (sleeps up to 7)
Downstairs
• Entrance hall with guest toilet
• Formal dining room (seats 10 and
has a fireplace)
• Blue gin bar and tasting room with
private cellar
• Drawing room/study/library with fireplaces
• Fully equipped kitchen
Upstairs
• Media room: large screen television
• Three en-suite bedrooms (1 king-size, 2 doubles and 1 single bed) with private balconies
POOL PAVILION (sleeps up to 8)
Upstairs
• Two en-suites:
Rockit Family Suite (1 king and 2 singles) opens onto pool area (not suitable for very young children)
In Full Bloom (1 king) with fully equipped kitchen and bar area
Downstairs
• One en-suite bedroom:
Into the Wild (1 queen) with private patio
EXCLUSIVE USE (sleeps up to 15)
Both the Manor House and Pavilion must
be booked exclusively in peak season.
The Victorian-style glasshouse is available for special events and small weddings
(off-peak only, or with 7-night booking in peak season).
Staff & Services
INCLUDED
• Welcome drink
• Housekeeping
• Guest host available throughout each stay
• Unlimited Wi-Fi
• Parking
• Pantry supplies (basics)
• Use of steam room, Jacuzzi and gym
EXCLUDED
• Laundry
• Meals and drinks
AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
• Farm-style lunches
• Private wine tastings
• Pizza evenings or traditional 'braai'
• Spa treatments and yoga sessions
• Hikes and cycling routes
• Outdoor movie nights
• Pre-stocked fridge on arrival
Advance notice required:
• Other activities and excursions
• Babysitting and au pair
• Private chef
• Dry cleaning
• Personal security
• Personal shopping
• Personal trainer
• Spa and beauty treatments
• Wine tasting and some of the best restaurants in South Africa are all nearby or in the historic town of Stellenbosch itself. Art and walking tours can be arranged with insiders who will explore Stellenbosch's lesser known delights.
• Visit the new satellite Norval gallery Boschendal Wine Estate, stay for lunch or browse its new shop and deli.
• Visit the Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden up in the mountains between Stellenbosch and Somerset West. Allow at least two hours – truly spectacular in spring when the wild pear is blossoming, or in the late afternoon.
• Take a drive and explore other family friendly farms such as Babylonstoren and Bosjes, both known for their architecture and design ethos, and for the 7ha kitchen garden at Babylonstoren. Or head into Cape Town for the day - it's an easy 35 minute drive.
• Art tours may be organised: share your interests with us and we'll curate a personal itinerary for you or connect you with experts.
• Check in 14h00
• Check out 10h00
• Maximum 15 guests in both houses (only bookable as exclusive use in peak season)
• No pets allowed
• Non-smoking
• Security deposit
• All bookings subject to final approval by owner
• Minimum 7-night stay in peak season
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
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