Piketberg Cultural History Museum

About Piketberg Cultural History Museum

Piketberg is a small town perched amongst wheat farms and fruit orchards, beneath the watchful eye of the Piketberg Mountains. It is in this atmosphere of history and charm that the Piketberg Museum was established, with the aim of igniting an intrigue, and inviting visitors and locals alike to emerge themselves in the unique appeal of this special Western Cape town.

The Piketberg Cultural Historical Museum was born in 1983, when Mr. AJ Liebenberg left his house and a collection of its contents to the Piketberg Municipality (then known as the Bergrivier Municipality) in his will. It was officially opened two years later, and remained at this address until 1998, when it moved next to the old Synagogue in Church Street.

This is a priceless archive, where history and heritage are celebrated. The exhibitions include old school yearbooks, photographs of the Piketberg of yesteryear and its inhabitants, and even minutes of the community meetings held here over the years. Artefacts have been donated by local folk, enriching the display and showcasing a wonderful variety of things to savour.

The museum building's style is based on the Edwardian architecture and furnishings of the 1920's. However, the house is a replica of a typical homestead in the early part of the 1900's.

The former curator of the museum, Mrs Roche du Toit, set up a fantastic herb garden here, which continues to flourish, delighting the senses of all who pay it a visit. In 2013, Piketberg Museum was awarded the Best Museum in the Western Cape for 2012/2013 by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport.

Piketberg is 130 kilometres from the Mother City (Cape Town) and the Cape Winelands, which produce top-notch wines that are acclaimed for being some of the finest in the world.