This is the story of Stellenbosch, Somerset West, Franschhoek, Paarl, Wellington and Tulbagh, which developed from lonely outposts of the Dutch East India Company in the shadow of the mighty 'Mountains of Africa' into thriving communities. Remote but fertile valleys attracted adventurous settlers who tamed the seemingly indomitable area. The book reflects their lifestyle, outlines architectural features, traces the growth of Afrikaans and education, shows how religion and politics influenced development, and in particular, what the arrival of the Huguenots meant to the growth of these communities, the centres of the oldest wine route in the country.