Paternoster, a casual 1,5 hours drive North of Cape Town, Western Cape, is becoming well known as the St Tropez of South Africa! Paternoster is Latin and means 'Our Father'. In the Roman Catholic religion, this is another name for the Lord's Prayer. The opening words of the Latin version are Pater nostre.

Legend has it that the town owes its name to an ancient shipwreck: the 'Paternoster', a Dutch merchant vessel, which ran aground on the shoreline three centuries ago.

Life in Paternoster is still closely associated with the sea and the fishing industry. The boats still strike out every morning to net crayfish and snoek (an indigenous fish). It is to this historic and peaceful little fishing village that the traveller comes to unwind. The Columbine Nature Reserve with the well known Tietiesbaai offers beautiful wildflowers during August and September.

Whales and Dolphins also visit these waters ten months of the year.

Commerce and nightlife are almost as frigid as the water - little interrupts the pleasing similitude of days and nights in this fishing village. Nothing could be better than to sit on a terrace with an unopened book and become one with the rhythm of nature.

Paternoster's geographical details:

Latitude: -32.8167; Longitude: 17.8833
Lat (DMS): 32° 49' 0S; Long (DMS): 17° 52' 60E
Altitude (feet): 200; Altitude (meters): 60
Time zone (est): UTC + 2
Nearby airports: SALDANHA VREDENBURG 9 nm S and
AFB LANGEBAANWEG 16 nm E