Franschhoek, also known as the gourmet Mecca of the Cape, has retained its historic Huguenot character.

The Franschhoek Valley lies southeast of Paarl and is enclosed on three sides by towering mountains: the Groot Drakenstein and Franschhoek Mountains, which meet above the valley, and the Klein Drakenstein and Simonsberg Mountains, which are found further down toward Paarl. Rivers from higher peaks flow down to the bottom of the valley where they converge to form the so-called Berg River, fast-flowing in winter when the snow covers the peaks and merely a small stream in summer, supplied by the Wemmershoek Dam.