 | Drakenstein Municipality launches Paarl East Street Museum - heritage route with a difference
05 October 2023 | Press Releases |
Press Release
4 October 2023
On World Tourism Day, 27 September 2023, Drakenstein Municipality launched a heritage route with a difference, the Paarl East Street Museum Route featuring 25 meaningful sites that tell the story of the diverse and historical significance of Paarl East in the Western Cape.
Linking Paarl East and West via Klein Drakenstein Road and Lady Grey Street, this route traverses the bustling Jan van Riebeeck Road (Huguenot bypass) until it connects to the Paarl CBD (central business district), where the Lady Grey Street bridge over the Berg River serves as a symbol of integration.
“Today, we gather to celebrate our diverse cultural heritage and to acknowledge the history that unites us. Paarl East is home to many citizens of Drakenstein, and our heritage is a source of hope,” said Councillor Laurichia van Niekerk, Mayoral Committee Member for Planning, Economic Development and Tourism at Drakenstein Municipality, who delivered the keynote address at the Heritage Month event.
Among the notable sites featured on this heritage route are the Khoi Memorial Site, Essop’s Supermarket Precinct, “Die Stoepe”, Zions Church Hall and Bethany School. Each site is marked with a nameplate, making the route easily identifiable.
Cheryl Phillips, Senior Manager: Economic Development and Tourism at the Municipality, elaborated on the project's origins: “This project aligns with recommendations from the Drakenstein Local Spatial Development Framework, emphasising the necessity to connect Paarl East and West by recognising the heritage value that Paarl East holds.
“The Paarl East Street Museum heritage route signifies a historical timeline and weaves together stories that provide context to the identified sites of importance. These narratives are the untold stories that shaped the lives of ordinary individuals within the economic, social, and political sphere of Paarl. Consequently, they have significantly influenced the development of Paarl East and its surrounds,” said Phillips.
“These stories uphold heritage and create meaningful connections between the people, historical events, and the sites of significance, paying homage to the unsung heroes who have left an indelible mark on the community,” concluded Councillor Van Niekerk.
visit:
or contact:
[END]
Issued by: Communication and Marketing, Drakenstein Municipality
