Loevenstein

Loevenstein, Northern Suburbs

The established suburb of Loevensteyn, part of the greater Bellville area with views of the Boland hills, lies about 20 kilometres from the city centre of Cape Town.

Loevensteyn is situated fairly close to the Tygerberg Nature Reserve, which means the green suburb is imbued with the calls of birds, and low-maintenance, water-wise gardens are a fashionable accessory. Originally the site of Loevenstein farm - the owner parcelled up his land, and development boomed in the area.

The suburb, like many of the northern suburbs, capitalises on its access to the N1, which serves as the main artery in and around Cape Town. You're only 30 kilometres from Stellenbosch, 10 kilometres from the Grand West Casino and 15 kilometres from Bloubergstrand and picture-postcard views of Table Mountain.

A bonus to residents of Loevensteyn, as with many of the other northern suburbs, is its proximity to the Durbanville wine route. The lesser known wine route close to Cape Town (Constantia tends to be more popular), wines here are characterised by very intense and diverse fruit flavours, particularly the area's signature grape, Sauvignon Blanc, and it's all down to the cool climate of the region due to the cool winds blowing off the Atlantic.

The Tygerberg shopping centre is a huge draw card to the area, offering an enormous selection of shops and entertainment, and if it's a more cultural experience you're after, then the Sanlam Art Gallery, in Bellville, has one of the largest corporate collections of local art.