Franschhoek Pass
Know What's around the corner of South Africa's Best Roads
From the wild and magnificent to the nostalgic and picturesque, Avis Rent a Car has announced the launch of its South Africa’s Best Roads campaign. Following the success of the Avis Best Roads campaign launched globally, Avis South Africa has adapted the concept for the South African consumer.Franschhoek Pass
The Franschhoek Pass, also known as Lambrechts Road, follows the path of least resistance along the Middagskransberg, tracing the northern edge of the Franschhoek Mountains between the Wemmershoek Mountains and the Franschhoek Valley.It is one of the more heart-stopping of the passes for views and vistas of the surrounding valleys, gorges and mountains, particularly the drop down to the Franschhoek River from the summit. The entrance to the Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve is located on this pass.
Franschhoek Pass is also called Lambrechts Road, though – more poetically – a hundred and fifty years ago it was known as Olifantshoek (“Elephants Corner’) after the now mythical herds of elephant which once roamed these valleys and mountains. This long, steep and dramatic pass with its variety of scenery was South Africa’s first properly engineered road. Popular attractions along this pass include the Franschhoek Motor Museum located at the beautiful L’Ormarins wine estate, the renowned Vrede en Lust Winery, nestled at the foothills of the Simonsberg Mountains as well as the Huguenot Memorial Museum which is set at the end of the main street through Franschhoek.