Pan
for Gold! Visit
the Diggings site A
pint at the Royal Hotel bar See
theAnglican
Church Visit
House Museum The
Printing Museum See
at the War
Memorial Browse
the Dredzen Shop Photograph
God's Window Play
a round of golf Go
hiking or horse riding Stay
in Victorian accommodation
Pilgrim's Rest is located on the scenic
Panorama Route in the northeast
corner of
South Africa's Mpumalanga Province.
This quaint little village offers the visitor
an interesting selection of cultural, historic
and eco experiences in an atmosphere reminiscent of the early
pioneers.
Pilgrim's Rest history dates back to the 1870s when a
miner, Alex Patterson, discovered alluvial gold on the farm
named Ponieskrantz. The area was soon officially proclaimed
a gold field and prospectors flocked to the area in search
of fortune, bringing with them their families, friends and
a spirit of discovery.
Soon the settlement became a thriving tent town and grew rapidly
to include a church, newspaper, grub houses and the
now famous Royal Hotel. Strolling through the village one can still sense
the wild atmosphere of these gold rush days in the many historic
buildings and landmarks, each with their own fascinating tales
from the past.
The Diggings Site on the outskirts of town offers a gold-panning
demonstration and is an authentic re-creation of how the Pilgrim's
valley once looked,
with its
Gold Commissioner's hut, prison tent, transport wagon and steam
engine.
The entire town was declared a National
Monument in 1986 in living memory of its auspicious
history and today it's preservation is managed by a dedicated
group of architects
and historians.
Any traveler to Pilgrim's Rest will need to see
The Anglican Church built in 1884, with its
beautiful copper and
lead glass window and an organ which
is over 100 years old. The wood and corrugated iron House
Museum is typical of the architecture
of the town and houses fine examples of Victorian decor and
furnishings. The Printing
Museum displays
some of the original equipment that was used to handprint
the "Goldfields Mercury" and the "Pilgrim's
and Sabie News" during the 1900s.
Other historical sites include the War Memorial -
its famous oak tree was grown from an acorn from
the
Delville Wood battlefield, and was planted in 1965, the Catholic
Church with its beautiful marble altar, the Neo-Gothic
style Methodist Church and the Dredzen Shop & House
Museum which depicts a typical general dealer shop
from the 1940s.
You simply cannot leave town without raising a toast at the bar
in the Royal Hotel. The building itself
has a fascinating history and you will always find a good conversation
to join
with one of the locals. The hotel also offers good
conference facilities and is a great location for
parties and weddings.
The area around Pilgrim's Rest is packed with attractions too
numerous to mention. Day trippers can picnic at God's
Window, Lisbon Falls or Berlin Falls or visit the unique natural
whirlpools
at Bourkes Luck potholes. The more energetic can enjoy nine
holes of golf, horse riding, trout fishing or hike one of several
nature trails.
Whether you stay for a day or a week, Pilgrim's Rest will capture
your heart with its beautiful surroundings, quirky atmosphere
and unique
blend of history and architecture.
Pan
for Gold!
Freestate 
