De Alchemist

The story of ‘De Alchemist’. Café in Ghent, Belgium - Guesthouse in Franschhoek, South Africa

During the Spring of 2013, Yves & Martine decided to start a new adventure by opening a nice little café in the old medieval town of Ghent, Belgium. They called it ‘De Alchemist’. Because the place was so popular, Adrian and Emma - their 2 youngest children - also started working at the bar and it became a beautiful family business.

On the wave of happiness and adventure, Yves and Martine took things one step further. During a short holiday in South Africa, they decided to buy a let down bed & breakfast and started another big adventure. Thanks to the ideas of Martine and the hands of Yves, the guesthouse turned into a beautiful oasis of peace and quiet in the beautiful wine valley of Franschhoek.

Franschhoek - food and wine capital of South Africa

Franschhoek ("French Corner", Dutch spelling before 1947 Fransche Hoek) is a small town in the Western Cape Province and one of the oldest towns of the Republic of South Africa. It is about 75 kilometres from Cape Town and has a population of slightly over 15,000 people.
Franschhoek was founded by French Huguenots settlers (hence the name), who fled the inquisition in Europe and were looking for a little hide-out on the other side of the world. They found it in the fertile valley of Franschhoek - initially known as Oliphantshoek, as the valley was known for the large number of elephants.
Even though most people don't speak French, many of the street names, restaurant names and wine farms in the 'French Quarter' have French names.

Once a sleepy country retreat, the village began experiencing a boom in the 1990s, and property prices have sharply increased. The ideal summer weather, snowy peaks in winter and proximity to Cape Town have turned Franschhoek into one of South Africa's most sought after residential addresses.
Franschhoek is notable for having some of the top restaurants in the country within its borders. This fact, together with the strong wine culture, and pristine natural and architectural beauty has made Franschhoek into what many describe as the ‘food and wine capital’ of South Africa. It's a great place to relax, enjoy top food and wine, in a spectacular atmosphere.

The attributes of the village have turned Franschhoek into a popular tourist destination, with dozens of bed & breakfasts and small cottages available for accommodation.

The Alchemist - Guesthouse

The guesthouse has seven double rooms which all have their own bathroom. There is possibility for rooms to open up to each other, which is ideal for families with children. There is a television and free wireless connection in every room.

The guesthouse has two charming swimming pools and a nice little bar. Breakfast, with only the freshest local ingredients, is served every morning.

For information and bookings email: info@thealchemist.co.za