Matoppo Inn

Matoppo aan de wagenweg is a beautifully restored drostdy building, dating back to the 17th century and is situated within a sprawling, lush garden estate in the heart of the Karoo. This guest house is an urban sanctuary with a romantic heritage, a unique sense of style and a commitment to service excellence. While travelling through the Karoo for business or leisure, you will find that Matoppo Inn is an elegant oasis which offers luxurious accommodation in the peace and serenity of a spacious Karoo environment.

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Matoppo House has a rich and romantic history dating back to c.1835. Stark in its simplicity, it is one of Beaufort West’s most beautiful and impressive historical homes. The main house was built for Magistrate Johannes Jacobus Meintjies, the son-in-law of the well-known Andries Stockenström. Though it was Meintjies’ private home and therefore not strictly speaking a ‘drostdy’ (official residence of landdrost or magistrate), it has long been known by that name. Since it soon became the social hub of the town, Meintjies Street which leads to its door, was widened to 80 ft (24,4 metres), as wide as the main street, so that carriages could turn at the gate. Later the street became a bustling market place complete with smithy.

In its heyday, this residence hosted magnificent dinners, balls and state functions. Every VIP crossing the Karoo was a guest here. The low handles of the doors in the Main House are a silent reminder of a time when servants had to bow down to open doors for guests. Meintjies retired in 1857, but lived in his house until his death in 1866, when his son-in-law took it over. The name Matoppo House was given to it by a later owner, PJ (Piet) Bosman, who acquired it in 1899. Piet was quite an admirer of Cecil John Rhodes who was buried in the Matoppo Hills of the current-day Zimbabwe. At some stage in its history Matoppo House became a sanatorium and later still it was partitioned off as a series of flats. This led to its decline and at a certain stage it was condemned to be demolished, but just days before this could happen it was rescued and restored. Matoppo House received National Monument status on 30 October 1992 (Provincial Heritage Site since 1999). Today Matoppo House serves as a guest house and is known as Matoppo Inn.