Belvidere Manor is situated in a quiet corner of Knysna`s lagoon, on the western shore and its focus is Belvidere House, home of the Duthie Family from 1849.
The corner stone for Belvidere House was laid amid much pomp in 1848 and the Duthie family had their “first dinner out of New House - good!” in November 1849.
Featuring its original yellowwood floors and the stinkwood and yellowwood staircase Belvidere House is a prime example of English Georgian architecture in the Eastern Cape colony, and gained its National Monument status in 1995.
In its time, Belvidere House was a centre of hospitality as well as serving as the local Post Office, and copies of a letters marked with the Belvidere postmark can be seen in the Drawing Room.
Now Belvidere House is the reception area for Belvidere Manor Hotel, and offers guests delightful views over landscaped gardens and the lagoon.
Breakfast is served daily on the verandah, light lunches on the terrace and by the pool, and at night dinner is served in Caroline`s bistro in the original dining room. Alternatively, The Bell Tavern is situated in one of the small out-buildings of the original farm, and has been voted the Garden Route`s best pub restaurant for 2009 and 2010.
Situated in the heart of the Garden Route, Belvidere offers a secluded base from which to explore the beauty of the surrounding forests, pristine golden beaches and the towering Knysna Heads.
Belvidere Manor accepts children from the age of 5. No pets allowed.
Visit historical Holy Trinity Church, Belvidere, built in the style of 12th century Norman architecture.
Take a sundowner boat ride on the lagoon.
Enjoy a stroll to Belvidere's Bird Sanctuary.
Play tennis on the Belvidere tennis courts, and try your luck with the locals!
Visit Mitchell's Brewery and try the locally brewed Foresters Ale.
Take a trip to the Featherbed Nature Reserve and walk through the milkwood forest on The Heads.
Guests are accommodated in 28 cottages, some with views of the Knysna lagoon and some with garden views. Each cottage has a wide verandah, comfortable lounge with fireplace and ceiling fan, satellite television and DVD player, a fully equipped kitchen, and options of one, two or three en-suite double bedrooms. The cottages are fully serviced.
Garden Classic - Situated in the grounds above the Manor House, a single storey, 2 or 3 bedroom cottage. Garden view
Garden Deluxe - Situated in the grounds above the Manor House, a double storey cottage, offering the main suite upstairs and the second suite with twin beds downstairs. Garden view.
Lagoon Classic - Situated in the grounds below the Manor House, a single storey, single suite cottage. Lagoon view.
Lagoon Deluxe - Situated in the grounds below the Manor House, a single storey, double suite cottage. Lagoon view.
Turn off the N2 between Knysna and Sedgefield at the Brenton/Belvidere sign (6 km from Knysna) at the bridge crossing the lagoon. Proceed under the N2, and continue for 2kms with the lagoon on your left.
Turn left to Belvidere and then first right into Belvidere Estate. At the intersection take Lower Duthie Drive and follow the circular drive until you reach Belvidere Manor.
