La Clé des Montagnes, Winelands

rooms

La Clé Village is a collection of stylish rooms and suites across three Village houses, Manoir, Grange and Colonial, as well as Galerie, an ultra-chic 2-bedroom fully-serviced, exclusive-use Villa. Each Village house is complete with a private garden, ample living spaces and pool. Guests come together at Manoir for exceptional meals hosted by our chefs to share in the valley’s culinary heritage.

Galerie
With two en-suite bedrooms, expansive living space, open plan kitchen and private garden, Galerie oozes modern charm and is the perfect fully serviced escape for 2 - 4 guests. A showcase for the owner's private abstract art collection, enjoy the antique furnishings. Your private pool enjoys stunning views from the terrace to mountains beyond. Available on an exclusive-use basis only.

Grange
This 3-bedroomed historic Village house was inspired by the elegant textures, solid woods and distinct fabrics of a colonial highlands lodge. Featuring two en-suite Garden Rooms and an en-suite Courtyard Room each with a private patio and garden view, an expansive living space, library, terrace and pool, Grange is a welcoming hideaway.Available on a per room or exclusive-use basis.

Colonial
A dynamic fusion of East and North African aesthetics awaits you at Colonial, a 4-bedroomed Villa. Moroccan tiles and patterned fabrics establish a tasteful, vibrant style creating memorable interiors. Featuring an expansive en-suite Garden Suite, two en-suite Courtyard Rooms, an en-suite Petite Room, large terrace, pool and ample room to spread out and relax, enjoy spacious living spaces, manicured gardens and mountain views. Available on a per room or exclusive-use basis.

Manoir
Manoir exudes an air of sophistication; guests will appreciate the French linens, beautiful antiques, charming furnishings and carefree colours. The masterful Garden Suite and chic Petite Room lead onto a secluded terrace with views over the garden and vineyards. Manoir is home to the main reception, lounge, library and dining at La Clé Village where guests come together for meals or to enjoy the rolling lawns, pool and ample living spaces. Homely, with a modern edge, Manoir offers the perfect salutation to French style in a breath-taking African landscape. Manoir is available on a per room basis only.

La Clé Lodge
Modern styling meets the classic charm of a traditional Cape Dutch home at this 5-bedroom Lodge. Flowing interiors, high ceilings and ample living areas are enhanced by charming accents and the rustic beauty of traditional materials. Nestled on La Clé des Montagnes’ second working vineyard in the centre of Franschhoek, La Clé Lodge offers expansive views, a tennis court, putt and chip lawn and helipad. It is managed by highly experienced chefs who offer up inspired menus, hearty home-style meals and finer dining options. Available on a per room or exclusive-use basis.

facilities & activities

With elegant accommodation, lovely pools and fabulous service you may just want to kick back and relax but there's more to La Clé des Montagnes with its plethora of family-friendly activities  both on and off site. There's quintessential boules and croquet on the lawn (subject to availability), a tennis court or perhaps try your hand on the chip & putt lawn before heading out to one of the nearby golf courses for the day. There are puzzles and board games inside for quiet family time and kids are well equipped with sports sets, toys, DVDs and cookie-baking classes (on request).

You'll definitely want to make the most of the fantastic location though - bicycles are available for guest use (book childrens bikes in advance) - perfect for exploring the town, or off-road bikes can be arranged for more technical riding. Head into the mountains which surround Franschhoek on 3 sides with trails for both beginners and more advanced hikers, runners and cyclists. Horse-riding fans will enjoy saddling up for a picturesque outride amidst the patchwork of vineyards, fynbos, rocky outcrops and towns within the winelands. Wine-tasting can be arranged along the way which we think adds a welcome dimension!

If your stay falls on a Saturday, then hang out with the locals at Franschhoek’s favourite market. Fresh, local breads and a hot cup of coffee is the best way to start your day in the valley. Franschhoek Beer Co, Leopard’s Leap, Boschendal and Franschhoek Cellar are the perfect spots for families with younger children thanks to their outdoor play areas and children menus. Not to mention their sensational wines and beers for older members of the family to savour over a shared cheese platter or bite to eat. Another popular outing is to Franschhoek Motor Museum where you'll have the opportunity to look back at more than 100 years of motoring history, explore the collection at leisure or enjoy a tour of the remarkable vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles.

dining

Embark on a veritable food journey!

For exclusive-use only bookings, your very own chef will prepare a feast of a breakfast with whatever hot option takes your fancy, be it a full English, eggs benedict or pancakes. If you are staying on a per room basis, guests eat together at Manoir (La Clé Village) or at La Clé Lodge if staying at the Lodge.

For evening dining, we recommend the optional 'Shared Table' dinner concept, available every day except Sunday and hosted at La Clé Village (all ages) or La Clé Lodge (12 years +). It's a great opportunity to come together and make new friends, with food options ranging from traditional Durban curries to French pastries, homemade pizzas to braais. Basically, real South African home-style family fare with seasonal daily menus. What's not to love?

Not to be missed is the quintessential local-style Braai. A signature experience this delicious spread of local meats and side dishes grilled to order over a fire fis truly mouth-watering. It is offered as a Shared Table experience for guests staying on a per-room basis or privately for exclusive-use bookings in the comfort of your private Villa (additional costs apply).

For younger guests, La Clé des Montagnes offers a children's menu that is both child-friendly and healthy. Dietary requirements can be accomodated and highchairs are available on request at La Clé Village. For families staying in the villas, don't miss the children's cookie and pizza making. 

Finally, you are of course just a short stroll away from some of South Africa’s best restaurants, so defintely take the opportunity to tantalise your taste-buds! For something more informal, there are lovely delis and coffee shops where you can sample local treats. Guest liaison can help with recommendations and table reservations. 

family

La Clé Lodge welcomes children 12 years and older for a 'tranquil' retreat, while La Clé Village is open to guests of all ages for a more relaxed family atmosphere.

For families with children 10 and under, the best option is the rooms at Manoir in La Clé Village. The Garden Suite and chic Petite Room are interleading with a private passageway, lounge and terrace. Additional bed available in each room to accomodate up to 6 guests. The Garden Suites and Garden Rooms in La Clé Village can each accommodate an additional child’s bed (12 yrs and younger).

For families with children aged 10-15 years we recommend Galerie or Manoir at La Clé Village. Use the combination above and split the beds in the Petite Room for twins or make use of Galerie, a 2-beroom private villa.

If travelling with older children the Petite Rooms and Garden Rooms at La Clé Lodge are great. Parents can cocoon themselves in a spacious Garden Room while older teenagers enjoy their own mini break in one of the Petite Rooms upstairs. Come together in shared spaces in the dining area, or around the pool in the afternoons after a day of exploring.

For large or multi-generational families or groups La Clé Lodge (5 bedrooms), Colonial (4 bedrooms), Grange (3 bedrooms) and Galerie (2 bedrooms) are all available as private villas for all ages. On an exclusive-use basis these villas offer a private terrace, garden and pool as well as expansive living spaces and a host. For the ‘mega-family’, combine villas in La Clé Village for friends and families to have their own spaces and come together.

From toys and sport sets to books, DVDs and child-minding, La Clé Village has it covered. La Clé Lodge is the only property that has access to Netflix & Showmax, but both properties have flat screens in each room.The gardens are secure and offer plenty of space to run and play. There are various pools and pool covers are available on request. Finally, it's worth noting that staff are happy to look after your children if you want an adult escape to one of the top restaurants in South Africa that are on your doorstep (additional costs apply).

location

Conveniently located 1 hour from Cape Town in the heart of Franschhoek, La Clé Village is on Daniel Hugo St and La Clé Lodge is on Cabriere St, two streets down from the Franschhoek main road. La Clé des Montagnes combines spectacular views with the convienence of being only a short stroll away from some of the area’s best restaurants, boutiques and galleries. Guests can explore the village by car, bicycle, horseback or the unique wine tram hop-on-hop-off service. Just a short drive away is the Franschhoek Motor Museum. 

Helicopter transfers from Cape Town airport are available on request.