• MATJIESFONTEIN BLOG
    MATJIESFONTEIN BLOG

The Owl House

Posted on Fri February 26, 2016.

Link your Karoo road trip with a Victorian sojourn in Matjiesfontein, to the awe-inspiring sight of the Valley of Desolation; and finish off in Nieu Bethesda with a visit to one of the Karoo’s most precious cultural treasures, the Owl House.

You’ll find the small town of Nieu Bethesda at the foot of the Sneeuberge (mountain range), at a distance of approximately 50 kilometres from Graaff Reinet.

On a road trip through the Karoo, Matjiesfontein is a highlight for many visitors—spend a few nights here before going on to your next adventure. The next stop on your journey could be the Valley of Desolation (read on for interesting facts about this natural wonder).

The Owl House is a wonder in its own right. Once the home of recluse Helen Martin, it's now a national treasure and museum. The story goes that Miss Helen (as she was fondly known) was ‘driven to despair by the dullness of her daily life, she took steps to transform her world with light, colour and texture’.

She employed many local artisans to help her build her vision. The most long standing and famous of which is Koos Malgas, who spent many years by her side creating the weird and wonderful pieces.

Using utilitarian mediums, such as cement, glass, mirrors and wire, she transformed her home into a magical world of mythical and religious figures—her own special brand of personal cosmology.

Visit theowlhouse.co.za for more information.