Petrusburg - Xhariep - Free State - South Africa

Petrusburg was named after Petrus Albertus Venter whose estate provided the money to buy the farm Diepfontein, on which the town was laid out in 1891 as a church and commercial centre for an extensive farming area.


Petrusburg lies on the N8 between Bloemfontein and Kimberley, and is connected to Koffiefontein by the R48 - another little farming town in the Letsemeng of the south-western Free State. Suffice to say that most of this area makes its money from farming - Luckhoff and Koffiefontein from perdominanatly cattle and sheep farming, and Petrusburg from what is known as mixed farming, which describes a preference for sheep farming supplemented with potatoes, maize, corn and sunflowers.

Petrusburg has distinct Karoo-style architecture that is particularly pleasing to the eye, and whilst the town may have originated as a church, today it is the commercial centre for the farming region. It also lies bang in the middle of South Africa, if you drive a little out of town, say 20 kilometres or so.

Do not make the mistake of assuming 'nothing doing' when entering the little towns of the Free State. Anything but. Described as the country's 'bread basket' the Free State might have over 30 000 farms (which makes for a great many farmers) but it is also home to some of the most beautiful, classic South African scenery - wide open blue skies, puffy white clouds and grass-covered prairies - and some of the most productive gold and diamond mines in the world.

It also explains the existence of the Diamond and Wine Route - a detour you might want to take when staying in Petrusburg. The route that follows the original diamond prospectors to the region includes open diamond mines at Koffiefontein (diamonds from this mine are sought after world-wide) and the mining village of Jagersfontein, almost directly south of Petrusburg, which boasts an even bigger man-made diamond hole than the Big Hole of Kimberley. Also on the route are the wine farms of Landzicht and Wilreza around Jacobsdal.

Activities

Emmaus
The centre point of South Africa- 20 km from the town.

Poplar Grove Battle
Where-in Christiaan de Wet tried unsuccessfully to prevent British advancement into Bloemfontein

. Paardeberg Anglo-Boer War Museum
23 km Outside of the town.

Historic Battlefields
The Battle of Poplar River, wherein Christiaan de Wet tried unsuccessfully to prevent British advancement into Bloemfontein, is one of many battles that were fought in the area.

Rondavels
Built with beer bottles next to the country lodge.

Two Block houses
At the entrance of the town, it is the Van Riebeeckfeespark (1652 - 1952)

Two Monuments
At the entrance of the town, a tribute to the citizens past and present.

Every year in March, a big music festival is held called the Aartappelfees (Potato Festival). The main street in town is Pretorius Street, but the busiest street is Ossewa street. The main school in town is A.J.C. Jooste High school. Next to Petrusburg is also a large township called Bolokanang, a legacy of the Apartheid era, which is expanding in recent years.  P
 
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