Paul Roux: Traces of the Stone Age and Earth’s History

Paul Roux combines historical themes in the town with prehistoric traces in the surrounding area and regional cycling connections. The Paul Roux Private Museum spans the Stone Age through to the Anglo-Boer War. On a farm in the district, fossilised dinosaur footprints offer a glimpse into Earth’s history; a cave on the Holhoek Hiking Trail is known for its rock paintings. Cycling options offer another perspective on the region. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between these different highlights and their respective locations.

History at the Paul Roux Private Museum

An interview published in 2024 lists the Paul Roux Private Museum at 31 Voortrekker Street in Paul Roux. The museum features a large exhibition on the Stone Age and stories from the Anglo-Boer War. Two very different historical perspectives sit side by side: the Stone Age reaches far back into prehistory, while the stories from the Anglo-Boer War cover a different period of the past. If this exhibition is the reason for your trip, check current visiting arrangements and exhibition details in advance.

Fossilised traces in the surrounding area

On Uniondale Farm in the Paul Roux district lies a large sandstone block from the Clarens Formation. It broke away from a high cliff on the mountain beneath the overlying lava layers and rolled onto the plain below. The block contains parts of the fossilised tracks of at least two fairly large carnivorous dinosaurs. The animals lived in this part of the Free State in the Early Jurassic, about 185 million years ago. Here, geology and animal history come together: the block tells the story of its movement down the mountain, while the tracks point to living creatures from the distant past. As the site is on a farm rather than in the town itself, check whether a visit is possible before making a detour.

Rock paintings on the Holhoek Hiking Trail

One of the five caves visited on the Holhoek Hiking Trail lies near a stream and features numerous rock paintings referred to as “Bushman rock paintings.” This discovery differs from the dinosaur tracks: here, the subject is rock art; there, fossilised tracks from the Early Jurassic. Both are in the area around Paul Roux, but they are associated with different excursion destinations. If you would like to include the cave in your plans, check visiting arrangements for the hiking trail in advance.

Cycling routes with different scopes

The cycling options also offer different highlights. The Tour De Gazer cycling route covers 203 km of the Sungazer Pilgrimage Route and includes comfortable accommodation for five nights. As accommodation arrangements can change, check them before planning your trip. The cycling Camino in the eastern Free State, which starts in Paul Roux, is a separate option. The two references answer different questions: for De Gazer, the route distance and overnight arrangements are specified; for the cycling Camino, the starting point is given. This makes it possible to distinguish the Camino’s connection to the town from the broader route with its overnight itinerary, without treating them as the same tour.

Choose the right holiday accommodation for your travel plans

When looking for holiday accommodation in Paul Roux, your trip’s main focus may help you decide. The museum is in the town; the sandstone block on Uniondale Farm and the cave on the Holhoek Hiking Trail are in the surrounding area. Some of the cycling options extend further into the region. So first consider whether you want to focus mainly on the museum’s history, the prehistoric sites, or a cycling trip. Visiting the museum, taking excursions nearby, and planning a multi-day cycling trip each involve different practical considerations. In particular, check current arrangements in advance for the accommodation included with the De Gazer cycling route for five nights.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Clarens, Memel, Kratzenstein, Phuthaditjhaba, Roadside, Bethlehem, Petrus Steyn, Fouriesburg.

Return to the regional travel overview: Thabo Mofutsanyane.