Worcester | Classic

Worcester | ClassicOverview Worcester is one of the largest inland towns in the Western Cape, set in the broad Breede River valley at the foot of the Hex River and Du Toitskloof mountains. It is a significant agricultural hub, surrounded by vineyards producing wine and brandy, and by the Hex River Valley to the north, which supplies much of South Africa's export table grapes. The Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden, on the town's edge where the valley gives way to

Overview

Worcester is one of the largest inland towns in the Western Cape, set in the broad Breede River valley at the foot of the Hex River and Du Toitskloof mountains. It is a significant agricultural hub, surrounded by vineyards producing wine and brandy, and by the Hex River Valley to the north, which supplies much of South Africa's export table grapes. The Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden, on the town's edge where the valley gives way to more arid terrain, marks Worcester's position at a significant ecological transition zone.

Map Design and Paper

The map is an original creation by our design studio at Africa Map Art. Data for this map has been compiled from various up-to-date sources including from the OpenStreetMap contributors. The map is available in four styles and on the following two paper options and canvas: a high quality 210gsm heavyweight coated paper with a matte finish, which achieves excellent colour and resolution and is perfect for framing;  a 260gsm photo paper with a smooth satin finish;  and a 350gsm strengthened canvas. All of the options are shipped in a cardboard roll for protection. The canvas is unstretched and unframed.

We welcome personalisation and customisation requests, such as highlighting of specific buildings or features, adjusting the colour scheme, or the addition of text and images.  Please contact us for a quote.

History

Worcester was founded in 1819 as a planned colonial town, named after the Marquess of Worcester, and laid out on a formal grid centred on Church Square — a pattern typical of British-era settlements of that period. Its location was chosen for access to the Breede River and as a practical staging point between Cape Town and the interior, sitting at the convergence of several mountain passes. The railway line from Wellington reached Worcester in 1874, and as agriculture intensified through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the town grew into the primary commercial and administrative centre of the Breede River Valley.