A traditional village way of life with the Nooitgedacht Village estate in Stellenbosch

We often dream of a lifestyle where the aroma of freshly baked bread and brewed coffee wafts through the home, while, outside, cobbled avenues and landscaped lawns trace a path to a fountained courtyard. Evenings are spent catching up with friends and neighbours at the local deli, tucking into delicious food and wine or simply watching the sun set behind the mountain, while children play in the well-manicured gardens. For the residents of Nooitgedacht Village, this lifestyle is less of a dream and more of a reality. Nestled on the fringes of the historic Boland town of Stellenbosch, Nooitgedacht is one of the major wine grape producers in the area and fruits from the orchids are exported to Europe and the Far East. The village supplies some of the most prominent Stellenbosch wine estates, including Beyerskloof, Simonsig, Kanu and L’Avenir. Drawing its design inspiration from quaint European Villages, the 270-hectare, 17th-century estate boasts a rich history and embraces strong traditional community values.11The estate remains under the careful custodianship of the Wirth family, who have retained the land since 1923 when Fritz Otto Wirth bought the farm from Cecil John Rhodes. After careful consideration, the family settled on developing an authentic and sustainable village based on the notion of the old European settlements, where the shared village experience cultivates a unified sense of community. These villages encompass every amenity required by dwellers in order to live a safe and peaceful life. Once fully completed, it is envisioned that Nooitgedacht Village will have all the necessary essentials for residents to live their entire life in the village, from cradle to grave. The viability of the concept has been vindicated, with many residents saying the reason they were motivated to buy was the notion of returning to an old-world village, removed from the hustle and bustle of the city, as well as a 43% growth in investor value in the period of 12 months. Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Cambria",serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} An exciting mix of residential, retail and commercial components combine to create a diverse, safe and attractive village. The Village Walk incorporates pretty cobbled pathways whilst a cobblestoned piazza is the focal point of the Village Square, with a traditional bakery and a deli, a butcher, charming boutiques, local food and wine stores and plenty of coffee shops planned for the near future. Nearby is the beautifully trimmed Village Park adjacent to the Village Retreat, which overlooks the picturesque Simonsberg Valley.Art is a chief aspect of life at Nooitgedacht. Bronze Editions features sculptures by a variety of well-known South African artists and there are proposals to relocate one of the country’s top rugby museums to the village. Future plans also include a well-stocked library, music concerts, a vintage festival and a gorgeous music room, inspired by local resident, Liza Joubert, of Koos Kombuis infamous song, Liza se Klavier. Nooitgedacht residents enjoy a wonderful wealth of sporting activities that include golf on the adjacent Devonvale course, a state of the art gym, swimming pool, squash and tennis courts and bowling greens, and a boules court that will open later this year.A first class equestrian facility is also on the cards. Furnished with stabling, paddocks and enchanting riding trials, it will allow seasoned riders the opportunity to practice and new riders the chance to partake in this leisurely pastime. A resident tack shop will also cater to the needs of homeowners and equestrian enthusiasts from the area. The pristine Nooitgedacht Farm provides a sprawling 200-hectare scenic landscape, including over 5 kilometres of walking paths, dedicated mountain biking and an 8-hectare dam for fishing and canoeing.Residents can picnic near the river, lie peacefully and read books under 230-year-old oak trees. With the majestic Simonsberg and Stellenbosch Mountain peaks providing a breathtaking backdrop, Nooitgedacht is widely recognised as one of the best wedding and event venues in the Western Cape, with 71 functions booked in 2014. Whilst the original stone walls and other key architectural features have been retained, the venue has undergone vast renovations and can now accommodate up to 300 guests. The historic chapel can seat 170 guests for the wedding service, but the majority of brides opt to have their ceremony outside in the luscious gardens instead.While traditionally a wedding-only venue, the family now plans to expand the offering to conferences and other functions. A refreshing menu takes inspiration from global culinary trends and traditional recipes inherited from generations gone by, and only the freshest choice of locally produced ingredients are used. Family values and heritage built over decades have come together at Nooitgedacht, manifesting the perfect, secure living environment for those wanting to spend quality time with the family, connect with nature and ultimately steal back just a little time for themselves. From its humble beginnings, it is easy to see why Nooitgedacht Village is swiftly developing into a premium address.The village is a place of beauty, creativity and sensual pleasure with its oak-lined trees, rolling vineyards, historical architecture and scented rose gardens. From the perfect romantic wedding settings to the imposing Simonsberg Mountain peaks, from the call of the resident fish eagles to the idyllic landscaped gardens, Nooitgedacht has everything needed to live a wonderfully tranquil lifestyle.Contact DetailsShow House: 021 091 0054www.nooitgedachtestate.co.za

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Estate Living Digital 01 2015