Clarens
Giving you the visitors of Clarens, real views and updated information, in 9 jam packed pages. CLARENS NEWS Go to www.clarensnews.com
This Ad. space will become available to purchase for R9000 for a whole year!
Stay at the Clarens Greenbrier Cottage for only R280 pp sharing on Weekends. The purpose built contemporary cottage sleeps four, has a log-burning stove, full bouquet TV, luxurious bathroom, underfloor heating, new kitchen and a covered porch with built-in braai...
friendly experience
Bibliophile Bookstore
Clarens Brewery
Highlander
Friends Pub
Cherry Company
Essensual Art Gallery
Woven Art Gallery
Maluti Mountain Lodge
Outrageous Adventures
Clarens Xtreme
Mont d Or Hotel
Clarens Greenbrier
Art Zone
Old Stone Bottle Store
Baruchs Coffee
Addy Hoyle Gallery
Rock Shop
Vitos
Email
You can email us your experience, friendly or unfriendly to editor_clarensmag.co.za
SELF CATERING COTTAGE
Chris and Ann Salt
You can contact us for enquiries or reservations at 058 256 1434, 082 856 6381
or chrisalt_icon.co.za
www.clarensgreenbrier.co.za
unfriendly experience
We recommend
www.hellopeter.com
to report bad experiences.
Art Galleries
"Friendliest Lodge in Africa"
Views expressed by you, the patrons of Clarens... Thank you, please keep sending them in...
Clarens Information
Clarens is nestled in the mountains between The Rooiberge, Golden Gate and Maluti's They provide a backdrop of nearly 360 degree views that change every day. Clarens is a mountain village with winding roads through the countryside. Clarens is a welcoming sight from any direction, as you come around the corner to see the green and red roofed sandstone houses.
Clarens is a highlight on the Maloti Route in the Eastern Free State of South Africa. Is well known for its fine art galleries, coffee shops and country made products. It is the perfect stop along the Maloti Route, a quiet, little Free State town where you can shop for preserves, Nastegal Jam, handcrafted leather - jewellery and knives, freshly made pastries and farmhouse bread... We have recently discovered real farm butter at the Trading Post.
Situated in a picturesque valley along the Little Caledon River, with views East and South to where the Maluti Mountains and Golden Gate Highlands stretch across the skyline. The sky is wide and blue providing a backdrop for ever changing vistas.
We have a mild climate making it a popular escape, however the winter months can be cold with crisp air coming from the Maluti Mountains of Lesotho (often covered with snow). Clarens has snow once or twice during the winter months, turning the quaint village into a fairy tale. The sister site Clarens News provides regular updates and predictions for snow during the winter months. Join us on Facebook for live updates.
Situated 3 to 4 hours drive from JHB, DBN and Bloem. The relatively close proximity makes it an ideal conference hub or a great weekend getaway at any time of year. It is also an ideal location for a family reunion. There are plenty of self catering establishments to cater for even the largest family get togethers.
The Maloti Route east on the R712 takes you along the scenic drive from Clarens to Golden Gate (16.9 km from Clarens). If you turn right to continue along the R711, you'll pass The Clarens Golf and Trout Estate on your left and then continue along the Surrender Hill Marathon route to Fouriesburg (24.3 km from Clarens).
The Maloti Route road from Clarens to Fouriesburg is probably the best biking road in the Free State. Sweeping bends, humbling scenery and crisp mountain air. Perfect for a breakfast run. At Fouriesburg you can turn left to Caledonspoort (Border Post with Lesotho) and on to Afri Ski, Katze Dam and beyond.
Restaurants offer a variety of cuisine.
For fresh country style pastries, bread and quiches and very good coffee it is suggested you go to The Millery Bakery (the road to the left as you enter Clarens.) Friends Restaurant and Pub (good place to watch rugby) has generous pub meals.
Espresso Cafes vary greatly in the quality of coffee you are served. The Cafe page in CLARENS MAG features the TOP FIVE espresso cafes in Clarens and an article on what goes into making a good espresso.
Clarens Art and Galleries are dotted around the village. Artist from all over South Africa come to Clarens for its beautiful scenery, dramatic landscapes, old sandstone houses, yellow poplar trees in Autumn, clouds that glow with colour in the evenings and early mornings and rock formations that appear to have been sculpted themselves.
Rock Art was probably the first art in the Clarens and Maloti Route area and many excellent examples are in the nearby mountains, on farms and at Golden Gate National Park.
The Geology found around the Maloti Route and especially prominent in Clarens and nearby Golden Gate is called the Clarens Formation. The Clarens formation is the middle, sand coloured rock. It is sometimes capped by The Drakensberg group, mainly basalt lava's. Below the Clarens Formation is a reddish rock layer called the Elliot Formation. Dinosaur Fossils can be found in both the Clarens and Elliot formations, and rock art is found on the upper inside walls of overhangs and caves created by the different densities of these layers.
Spending the day walking around Clarens appreciating the different art and the area that inspired much of it is a relaxing way to experience some of the best that Clarens has to offer. Quirky shops, delicious deli's, Crema Cafe's, Art Galleries and The Bibiophile, a booklover's bookstore...
Activities in and around Clarens range from swimming in the dam at the back of Clarens on a hot day to hot air ballooning or white water rafting on the Ash River.
The Ash river outfall - part of the Lesotho highlands Water Project is 9 km from Clarens towards Bethlehem. Underground tunnels bring the water from Lesotho. Besides feeding water into the Vaal river system, it also provides ideal water levels for white water rafting all year round.
There is a trail on the mountain behind Clarens that has great views of Clarens and Lesotho. (Ask at any of the village shops for directions.)
To pack an amazing picnic basket - visit The Millery Bakery and Deli. They bake Italian breads, muffins, etc. You'll also find all the mediterranean toppings for a delicious platter here. The Old Stone Bottle Store has a good selection of wines.
The Clarens Brewery offers for you to try their fine, handcrafted beers and ciders, for free, at their bar in the Clarens Info Centre.
Christmas in July (from 1st to 31st July) Come and experience a wintery Christmas in Clarens. There may even be snow!
Spring Festival in Fouriesburg (First weekend of September),
The Cherry Festival in Ficksburg (Third week of November),
Steel Wings Rally in Clarens (November),
Vintage tractor fair in Clocolan (first weekend of March),
Surrender Hill Marathon (March),
Art Exhibitions etc. All happen within close proximity to Clarens, making it an ideal place to stay on the Maloti Route. On the Art page you will find a selection of art that changes from time to time chosen from the art galleries in Clarens.
At night Clarens becomes "the Jewel of the Free State". The sky is filled with stars, the air is crisp and the streets are safe enough to walk around. An evening at one of the restaurants or bars is a great way to relax and unwind. Live music performed by local and visiting artists is often a feature at one or more of the night venues, especially over weekends.
Seeking Accommodation? You really are spoilt for choice. CLARENS MAG has a full list of the B&B, Guest House, Self Catering and family run hotels. Just go to the Accommodation page and flip through the directory at the back for a list of all the accommodation in Clarens, with direct links to their websites so that you can deal directly with them.
The Maluti Mountain Lodge situated at the top of Clarens is friendly and comfortable,
Mont d Or Hotel also perched high up has some of the best views,
The Clarens Greenbrier Cottage is very good value for money.
Being a village in the Country means there are farms in all directions, and many of these farms have great guesthouses built out of Clarens Sandstone. Some are so beautifully built they are often used for weddings and other functions.
Made in Clarens products can be found at: The Clarens Brewery (beers and ciders), The Leatherman (leather products), The Millery Bakery & Cafe (home made bread, pastries, muffins), The Cherry Company has cherry products from the area, Bossie Knives (handmade knives). Various street artists have their goods displayed on the square on weekends. And don't forget that many of the works of art are painted or sculpted nearby.
Clarens History The days of frontier farms, ox-wagons and The Anglo Boer war. Clarens was named after a town in Switzerland where Paul Kruger spent his last days in voluntary exile. Titanic rock stands sentinel over the town, Setlofe or Mount Horeb is part of Basotho folklore, Fertility Cave is the largest rock overhang in the Southern Hemisphere, descendents of the original families, who were around when Clarens was established as a village, still live in the area and are able to tell stories thatn have been passed down.
Bushman rock art, Dinosaur Fossils, Cannibals, hidden treasure, the list goes on and on. Read some of the stories about the History of Clarens in CLARENS MAG on the History page
CLARENS MAG offers readers the most up-to-date information for the town of Clarens. We are a well respected and local publication that is growing in readership.
