Constantia Property - Real Estate - Houses

Property in Constantia is highly sought after due to the residential area being both prestigious and rich in history.  Nestled against the back of Table Mountain and the Constantiaberg mountains, it was originally a farming area settled by Simon van der Stel after he was granted a farm in 1685 by the then Commissioner Van Rheede. Rumour has it that the valley was named after the Commissioner's daughter Constanza. 

Simon van der Stel adorned the land with orchards and vineyards - some of the Cape's finest wines still come from the farms left in the area.  Constantia properties gradually underwent numerous subdivisions and development over the ensuing centuries, with the initial one taking place after van der Stel died in 1712.  This resulted in the internationally renowned Groot Constantia Farm and Bergvliet, now a residential area.  Groot Constantia was farmed by many prestigious Cape families until Hendrik Cloete took ownership in 1778.  They enjoyed the farm for over hundred years but were forced to sell it to the government in the 1880's because the farm was devastated by the phylloxera epidemic.

The Eksteen family farmed and owned Bergvliet farm.  They were fiercely loyal to Napoleon, resulting in them hoisting the tricolor when the British troops crossed their farm after winning the battle of Muizenberg.  While imprisoned on the island of St. Helena, Napoleon and the British troops on St. Helena enjoyed the red wines from Constantia Valley.

Tokai on the southern side of the valley, which is now a well sought after Cape Town real estate area, was also owned by a member of the Eksteen family for a number of years.  One of the famous architects in the Cape at the time, Thibault, was employed to design Tokai Manor, a well known landmark in the Tokai forest in the Constantia Valley.  

Alphen, never a part of the original farm granted to van der Stel, is on the northern border of the valley.  It has been owned by descendents of Hendrik Cloete since 1845 and today is a world renowned hotel with the original elegant manor house offering fine dining in the oak lined dining room, or on the patio which overlooks the ‘werf'.

Constantia Valley offers excellent award winning restaurants for fine dining including La Colombe, Buitenverwagting, Constatnia Uitsig, Catherina's, Buitenverwagting, Jonkerhuis, Steenberg and Simons.   For a more casual evening one can enjoy Pastis Bistro, Greens and Wang Thai - all in the small boutique shopping centre opposite Silverhurst, an exclusive gated community, or enjoy Sushi at Wakame in the Constantia Shopping Centre. For an evening of fun and dancing, Constantia Nek offers a festive alternative to the other 30 odd restaurants in the area.

To sample the wine from the oldest wine estates in the Cape, one can visit Klein Constantia, Groot Constantia, Constantia Uitsig and Buitenverwagting. The proximity to world-class golf courses such as Steenberg and Royal Cape are an added attraction for overseas visitors.  They are able to stay at varied accommodation from four and five-star guest houses to excellent hotels such as The Cellars-Hohenhort and The Alphen.  For visitors wanting a more casual approach, there are a number of self-catering opportunities and lodges.

There are varied places of worship including a Dutch Reformed, Anglican and Catholic Church, the Constantia Hebrew Synagogue and two Mosques.  A sense of community is experienced in the two main shopping centers, Constantia Village and Steenberg Shopping Centre.  They both offer coffee shops, boutique clothing stores, decorating shops, book shops and well known supermarket brands with ample parking available; these amenities help keep property values high for homes in Constantia.

Reddam House, the American International School, the Waldorf School and Herzlia Primary School are all private schools based in the Constantia Valley.  Close by in Rondebosch, Claremont, Kenilworth, Wynberg, Newlands Meadowridge and Bergvliet there are some of the country's most prestigious private and government schools, all within close proximity to a plethora of Constantia property.

• Residential Sale Property Ranging from R2,800,000 to R36,000,000

• Residential Let Property Ranging from R24,000 to R75,000