Clarens is surrounded by mountains, some, an extension of the Drakensberg, creating a beautiful setting. There is something special about the light in this place and along with the scenery, it has attracted many artists to make this their home.
This “Jewel’ of the Free State is one of the best small towns in South Africa and a great place to safely stroll around to explore galleries, studios, quaint shops while sampling the excellent Clarens Craft Beer, gins and cherry liquors as nearby is a major cherry growing area.
There is a lot more to Clarens than art, but we suggest you join an art class to really experience the place. The area is history rich as nearby is the setting of one of the worst defeats in the Boer War. Its history is prehistoric too, as this is a dinosaur and earlier fossil rich area. The area is great for activities as there are fantastic hikes, easy to challenging places to mountain bike and places to explore with San Rock Art/
A short drive from Clarens are the ancient sandstone cliffs of the Golden Gate National Reserve. They stand in amongst over 50 species of grasses. A little further, the vast expanse of the Sterkfontein Dam is the third largest in South Africa with sailing and other water-sports. The surrounding landscape is characterized by rugged mountains, lush ravines and rolling grasslands.
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