Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch (; Afrikaans: [ˈstælənˌbɔs]) is a town in the Western Cape province of South Africa, situated about 50 kilometres (31 miles) east of Cape Town, along the banks of the Eerste River at the foot of the Stellenbosch Mountain. The town became known as the City of Oaks or Eikestad in Afrikaans and Dutch due to the large number of oak trees that were planted by its founder, Simon van der Stel, to grace the streets and homesteads. Stellenbosch is a popular tourist destination due to its history as the second oldest town in South Africa (dating back to 1679), its many historic buildings that are typical of Cape Dutch architecture, its location in the centre of many famous wine farms, as well as its variety of cafes, restaurants, boutiques and art galleries. The town is home to Stellenbosch University, one of South Africa's oldest universities, whose campus and buildings occupies large swathes of the town centre. Stellenbosch also has a modern science park, Technopark, situated on the southern side of the town, which serves as a base for many large companies and startups, including Capitec Bank (South Africa's second largest retail bank). Stellenbosch has its own municipality (incorporating the neighbouring towns of Pniel and Franschhoek), adjoining the metropolitan area of the City of Cape Town.