Franschhoek Pass

A mountain pass crossing the Franschhoek Mountains on the R45, with dramatic views over the valley and the Winelands

The Franschhoek Pass crosses the Franschhoek Mountains on the R45, climbing from the wine valley below to a high watershed before descending to Villiersdorp. The road was surveyed and built in 1825 and has been continuously improved since; the current surface makes it easily passable by ordinary car, though the gradient is steep in places and caution is warranted in wet weather.

The views from the top are superb: looking back west, the Franschhoek valley unfolds below — vineyards, the white dot of the town, and the mountains on either side forming a perfect amphitheatre. Looking east, the landscape changes character entirely, opening onto the broader Overberg and the Theewaterskloof reservoir that supplies much of Cape Town's water.

The pass is best driven in the early morning or late afternoon, when the light is at its best and the road is quieter. Allow about 30–40 minutes for a leisurely drive to the top and back from Franschhoek. The pass can also be combined with a loop through Villiersdorp and back via the N2 as a half-day excursion.

things to do sight
A story
The pass was built in 1825 by the British colonial administration, replacing a rough wagon track that had existed since the Huguenots first needed to move goods over the mountains. The engineer, Henry Fancourt White, designed several passes in the Cape Colony and became so identified with road-building that the town of George has a street named after him — but the Franschhoek Pass is considered his finest work.