In 1609 Galileo Galilei made a public demonstration of the first scientifically constructed telescope. Today, thousands of tourists come to the small town of Sutherland to visit the largest telescope in the Southern Hemisphere, called SALT. When visiting the area, Galileo Cottage is the place where you’d want to stay. Whereas Galileo proclaimed that the earth moves around the sun, we at Galileo Cottage claim that with us the earth moves around your comfort.
Galileo Cottage offers world-class self-catering accommodation where all expectations are exceeded. Guests are treated with warm and generous hospitality with attention to personal detail. This cottage is perfect for a family as it consists of a double bed and two extra single beds. There is a private sunny living room, fully equipped kitchen with fridge and microwave, private garden with an abundance of birdlife and braai (barbeque) facilities are available. Electric blankets and clean linen are provided. Heaters and a very popular antique wood stove are available for those cold winter nights. There is a separate shower and toilet with heated towel rails, fluffy towels and a hairdryer.
Facilities:
- Safe parking on site;
- Private entrance;
- Television;
- Board games and reading material;
- Radio in room; and
- Tea/coffee making facilities with homemade treats.
Activities in Sutherland:
- A round of golf on their unique golf course;
- Visit the largest telescope in the Southern Hemisphere, SALT;
- A night viewing of the clear night skies is a must. This can be done privately or at the Observatory;
- The Louw Museum, birthplace of poets NP van Wyk Louw and WEG Louw;
- Architectural gems such as the Dutch Reformed Church built in 1898 and still bearing testament to the Anglo Boer War;
- English and Jewish cemeteries and the graves of an English soldier who was actually buried twice;
- Ouberg Pass with unsurpassable views of the Karoo Valley a thousand meters below; and
- A visit to Tuinplaas Trekpad church, one of the oldest churches still in use in South Africa. This can be combined with a visit to Windheuwel Bossieskerm, a road stall with a difference. Here you can still walk through the ruins of the ‘miserable abode’ where the explorer, Burchell, passed one night during on of his travels in 1811.
