Rouxville

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Ever heard of Rouxville? You might have passed it after stopping over in Smithfield enroute to East London on the N6, thinking it's no more than a dorp with a fuel station, a bottle store and a Chinese shop. You would be wrong! Although as you enter Rouxville it is arguably not the most attractive facade, the true beauty lies only a street away...

Situated on the N6. Rouxville was founded by Petrus Wepenaar, in 1863 on the farm Zuurbult. It was named after Rev. Pieter Roux, who traveled throughout the Eastern Free State for many years holding church services for local communities. During the Anglo-Boer war all of it's citizens were called up and the town was completely deserted for two years. The town is at the centre of the wool producing areas of the Transgariep.

Rouxville is situated smack in the middle of a number of very other interesting places. You can easily drive in half an hour to most other places. Zastron, 30Km, Aliwal North 33Km, Smithfield 38Km, Gariep Dam +-60Km, Bethulie are all within easy reach. Even Lesotho is only +-70Km away. Places such as Lady Grey, the Witteberg (2769 Meters Avoca peak) and even the Drankensberg are easily accessible from Rouxville.

This small town however is a nice stop to enjoy walking around and take in the relaxing atmosphere. Like so many other dorps, it had it's glory days, was forgotten, but is slowly reviving in a different way.
The best selling point of Rouxville is probably its location. For two reasons: first of all it is in the middle of a number of other interesting places such as Smithfield, Aliwal, Xhariep and Zastron. Secondly, the impressive Maluti mountains in the back drop make it a place to stop and have a sit, enjoying the views. Compared to Smithfield it is clearly a less active town in terms of artists or restaurants, but it has the odd little shop, the sandstone church in addition to some other historical houses, a trekkers (tractor) museum and a number of eating places, with some new B&Bs and restaurants.

Most of all though it's about the relaxed atmosphere, the old and renovated houses and the views.
So next time you slow down to the 60km limit, take a turn into one of the streets and see for yourself.


Many older houses can be found in Rouxville, with about half of them restored, with some beautiful houses among these and some others waiting for a fresh coat of paint. Lately more people from Gauteng have been buying up the older houses and started their renovation.

The "location" is quite prominent when you enter Rouxville coming from Smithfield, and the town seems separated in two, the old Rouxville and the new(er) location. It is not so much a racial divide, but more an economic one. In fact, in town you will find houses inhabited both by black and white alike. Rouxville has all the potential of becoming a destination for the nature lover or the adventurer as well as artists, and slowly but surely these people are finding Rouxville.




New investment is coming in with city people as well as foreign investors taking a keen interest in the region, renovating houses and giving the place a new flair. An example of that is the newly opened Tinkerbel Self Catering home on Albertein Street called  Tinkerbell Self Catering.


Cottage - National Monument                                    Just a quiet street in Rouxville

Located between the Caledon and the Orange river, surrounded by sheep and some cattle farms, very nice wide (wide enough to turn your horse and wagon) streets and a relaxed atmosphere are the key ingredients to Rouxville.

Of course at night, a magnitude of stars fill the sky and the peace and quiet really do justice to the place.

Ons Tuiste B&B (left) on Chasestreet and a new Restaurant B&B that opened in 2007 (right)

In the end, what makes or breaks a place, are its people, and the ones I’ve met were all very friendly and welcoming. People still great each other in the streets and you get that small country town feeling.
So next time you’re driving on the N6 to East London, or if you are backpacking through the less known South Africa, or if you simply like something different, make sure to pay a visit to Rouxville, and stay for a while longer, getting to know this small little town of ours.

The old (and no longer in use) train station in Rouxville
(now that I would like to buy....)

Train leaving to... no where for the time being.

Of course there is always other stuff you
can do on an empty railway

 
Approaching Rouxville from Aliwal                               Church street in Rouxville

Rouxville is a developing village, where you can find peace and quiet and enough self-made entertainment (mountains, lakes, dams, golf, eating out, braais), but as more and more South Africans and visitors alike are discovering the beauty of the country-side, Rouxville is certain to mark its place.

Alternatively you might want to go skiing in the Ben Macdhui Skiing Area.
Rouxville present the visitor with some wonderful scenery such as mountains, rivers (Orange river and Caledon rivers). You can go trout fishing in the nearby and just take in that fresh and clean air.


From top left to down right: Church Street, a development centre, the trekker (tractor) museum,
view coming into Rouxville from Aliwal.


The sandstone church in Rouxville
 


A renovated house, the Doctor's Surgery 1907 (national monument)
and another renovated house