Ceres | Classic

Overview

Ceres is a prosperous farming town in the Western Cape. It is set in a wide, fertile valley known as the Koue Bokkeveld, enclosed by the Witsenberg and Skurweberg mountain ranges and watered by the Dwars River. It is one of South Africa's most productive deciduous fruit regions, known especially for apples and pears, and is the home of the well-known Ceres fruit juice brand. The surrounding mountains give the town a sheltered, enclosed character unlike the open landscapes of much of the Cape interior.

Our map includes the old town centre on the western bank of the Dwars River, and the newer developments on the eastern bank. The large fruit juice plants are to the east of the town and the Mitchell’s Pass through the Witsenberg Mountains is in the south west corner.  All of the buildings and the road & rail infrastructures are shown.

Map Design and Paper

The map is an original creation by our design studio at Africa Map Art. Data for this map has been compiled from various up-to-date sources including from the OpenStreetMap contributors. The map is available in four styles and on the following two paper options and canvas: a high quality 210gsm heavyweight coated paper with a matte finish, which achieves excellent colour and resolution and is perfect for framing;  a 260gsm photo paper with a smooth satin finish;  and a 350gsm strengthened canvas. All of the options are shipped in a cardboard roll for protection. The canvas is unstretched and unframed.

We welcome personalisation and customisation requests, such as highlighting of specific buildings or features, adjusting the colour scheme, or the addition of text and images.  Please contact us for a quote.

History

Ceres was established in 1849 following the construction of Mitchell’s Pass and was named after the Roman goddess of agriculture — a fitting choice for a valley with fertile soils and reliable river water. The town was laid out on a grid on the valley floor, its location was determined by access to the Dwars River and the shelter of the encircling mountains. As road and rail links improved, Ceres became a vital stop on the main route to the diamond fields of Kimberley. Today, it is a significant fruit-packing and export centre for the wider region and its name is synonymous with fruit juices exported worldwide.