Discover Frankfort on the Wilge River

Frankfort is a small, agriculture-oriented town on the banks of the Wilge River in South Africa’s Free State. Its riverside location and history offer two specific points of interest: its name refers to a German city, and an old clock on the church façade recalls an event from 1901. Local arts, crafts and food culture add to these features. You can get to know Frankfort through its history and its contemporary cultural themes.

How Frankfort got its name

Frankfort was founded in 1869 on the farm Roodepoort. Albert van Gordon named the town after the German city of Frankfurt. This origin gives the name a specific connection: Frankfort is named after Frankfurt. If you are interested in the town’s development, you can start with its founding and then turn your attention to later events associated with a distinctive building.

A clock as part of the town’s history

The Dutch Reformed Church is considered a historically significant building in Frankfort. During the Anglo-Boer War, British troops burned down the church in 1901; the old clock on its façade survived the fire. The clock’s survival is a striking detail in this story, linking a visible feature to a specific historical event. The church and its history thus offer another way to explore the town’s past.

Frankfort in its regional context

The R34 provincial road from Kroonstad towards Natal runs right beside Frankfort. The distances to two regional points of reference are also useful for getting a sense of the area beyond the town: Heilbron is 55 kilometres to the east, and Sasolburg is about 120 kilometres southeast of Frankfort. When choosing your holiday rental, you can first decide whether Frankfort itself or its location within the wider region matters more to your travel plans.

Culture and seasonal specialities

Linkview Home is a café in Frankfort. Its seasonal offerings include homemade iced tea, Seam coffee, cakes, pastries, and traditional sweet and savoury specialities. If you plan to visit the café, check in advance whether it is open to visitors and what is on offer for the season. This will help you decide whether to include this culinary stop in your plans.

Another cultural highlight to consider is a visit to Namahadi's Art and Crafts Centre. During a visit, you can see local crafts and beadwork there. Check in advance whether a visit is possible. The arts and crafts offer a different perspective on regional culture, complementing the town’s history.

Choosing the right base

When choosing a holiday rental, it is worth considering a simple question: would you like to focus on Frankfort itself, with its history and local cultural attractions, or explore the town in its wider regional context? Frankfort’s location on the Wilge River, its agricultural character and the regional points of reference mentioned above offer different ways to plan your stay, without implying a particular type of accommodation or amenities.

Discover more destinations: Kroonstad, Deneysville, Parys, Sasolburg.

Return to the regional travel overview: Fezile Dabi.