Thesis (MA (History))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Farm tourism is a fast growing industry in South Africa and internationally. It not only supplements farmers’ income, but can also contribute to social and economic developments in rural areas. Before farm tourism can be implemented it is important to evaluate a farm and its surrounding district to assess whether it can be a successful enterprise. Certain norms are applied in the process of assessment. An assessment was done of the farms Soutpan and Sewefontein, and also the districts of Calvinia and Nieuwoudtville. The location of the farms and surrounding areas were evaluated according to climate, ecology and geology. Tourist attractions on the farms and surrounding areas were also evaluated. The study offers a cultural historical perspective on farm tourism: the history of the farms and their owners is discussed, as well as the architecture with regard to style, the materials and building methods. Daily life and farm activities of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries are investigated. This includes aspects of intangible culture, such as word art (including place names and names of persons), as well as weatherlore. Tested against the system of norms, it would be possible to run a farm tourism industry on Soutpan, because there are several attractions to entice tourists to the farm. The Karoo topography and isolation of the farm will however not be acceptable to all tourists. A few of the farm buildings are derelict and extensive capital investment will be needed to repair them. Extensive marketing will also be necessary to successfully advertise and run the farm as a tourist venture. Sewefontein, on the other hand, complies to all the relevant norms and has already been established as a successful farm tourism enterprise. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Plaastoerisme is in Suid-Afrika en in die buiteland ‘n snelgroeiende bedryf. Dit vul nie net die boer se inkomste aan nie, maar kan ook ‘n suksesvolle bydrae lewer tot die sosiale en ekonomiese ontwikkeling van plattelandse streke. Alvorens plaastoerisme bedryf word, is dit belangrik om ‘n waardebepaling van ‘n plaas en die omgewing waarin dit geleë is, te maak, om te bepaal of plaastoerisme suksesvol bedryf sal kan word. Dié waardebepaling word aan die hand van sekere norme gedoen. ‘n Waardebepaling van die plase Soutpan en Sewefontein en die Calvinia- en Nieuwoudtvilleomgewings is gedoen. Die ligging van die plase en die omgewing is geëvalueer ten opsigte van klimaat, plantegroei en geologie, terwyl toeriste-aantreklikhede op die plase en in die omgewing ook ondersoek is. Die studie bied ‘n kultuurhistoriese perspektief op plaastoerisme: die geskiedenis van die plase en hulle eienaars is bespreek, asook die argitektuur in terme van styl, boumateriaal en boumetodes. Die daaglikse lewe en plaasaktiwiteite van die negentiende en twintigste eeu is ondersoek. Dit sluit aspekte van geestelike kultuur soos volkswoordkuns (onder meer plekname en persoonsname) en volksweerkunde in. Getoets aan die normesisteem sou dit wel moontlik wees om plaastoerisme op Soutpan te bedryf aangesien daar heelwat aantreklikhede is wat toeriste daarheen sou kon lok. Die Karoo-topografie en afgesonderheid van die plaas sal egter nie by alle toeriste byval vind nie. Van die geboue op die plaas is reeds vervalle en groot kapitale inset en intensiewe bemarking sal nodig wees om plaastoerisme suksesvol te bedryf. Sewefontein voldoen goed aan die normesisteem en plaastoerisme kan, en word reeds, suksesvol daar bedryf.