Fouriesburg

Fouriesburg was founded in 1892 on land donated by Huguenot farmer Christoffel Fourie to the Orange Free State. During the Second Boer War, it briefly served as the republic's temporary capital as British forces closed in. The original settlement was nearly destroyed by 1902. What remained was rebuilt in the characteristic golden sandstone of the eastern Free State, and that is mostly what you see when you drive through today. The little sandstone Dutch Reformed church, built in 1893, is the oldest building still standing. The blockhouse from the war and the President Steyn House add to the historical layer.

The town sits in the Brandwater Basin at roughly 1,796 metres above sea level, enclosed by the Witteberge to the west and the Rooiberge to the north. The Maluti Mountains fill the horizon to the south and east. In winter the surrounding peaks regularly hold snow, and that draws visitors who do not make it as far as Golden Gate. The Meiringskloof Nature Reserve on the edge of town is quiet and accessible with good fynbos and bird life. The Boesmanskrans hiking trail is one of several hikes in the area worth seeking out, and mountain biking routes are gaining a following.

Fouriesburg is 36 km from Clarens on the R711, and most visitors include it as part of a route rather than a destination on its own. That is fair. It does not have the galleries and restaurants of Clarens, but it also does not have the weekend crowds. The Caledon's Poort border post to Lesotho is 10 km away, making it a practical entry point into the mountain kingdom for those who want a quieter crossing than Ficksburg.

The feel here is agricultural and unhurried. Farmers come to town on Saturday mornings. The guesthouse options are good. If you want mountain country without paying Clarens prices or tolerating Clarens foot traffic, Fouriesburg makes a reasonable case for itself.