On our way back from De Hoop Nature Reserve and after we visited Cape Agulhus, we found ourselves in the picturesque and peaceful tiny town of Elim. The small village was established in 1824 by German missionaries as a Moravian mission station.
The small town of Elim is so pretty and is filled with whitewashed cottages, fruit trees and fynbos. All the roads lead to the thatch-roofed Moravian church and the community, still mainly Moravian, consists of farmers, farm workers and artisans. Elim is becoming known for the export of fynbos, and as an emerging area in the production of wine.
We popped in at the Waterfront Coffee Shop, which is located in the home of Joyce, who has lived in Elim her whole life. The coffee shop is also a little tourism bureau, where you can find out what you can do in the area, where to eat, sleep, etc. But I highly recommend chatting with Joyce, she knows so much about the history of the area and has so many stories to share with all who visit her.
After a nice pot of tea and cold drinks for the kids, we took a walk to the Moravian Church. The church was built in 1835 and is the focal point of the whole town. The working water mill, which used to grind the flour for the local bakery, has been restored to its original historical state and was declared a national monument in 1974.
So if you are ever driving through the beautiful Overberg, visit this charming village, a declared National Monument in its entirety and see how little this village has changed since yesteryear.
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