Historic city · Pilgrim's Rest, Mpumalanga

Vila Histórica de Pilgrim's Rest

Gold rush village from 1873, preserved with corrugated iron and wooden houses, small museums and the gold workings of the Diggings Museum.

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About Vila Histórica de Pilgrim's Rest

In 1873 the prospector Alec Patterson, known as Wheelbarrow for pushing a wheelbarrow, found gold in the valley creek. Others soon arrived, and one of them is said to have given the place its name: the pilgrim's rest, the end of the search. Within months, hundreds of people lived in tents in the valley.

The village grew with corrugated iron and wooden houses, easy to transport, and mining passed to a company that operated until 1972. After that the government bought the whole village and preserved it as an open-air museum. The main street divides into Uptown and Downtown, with shops, a hotel, a bank and a period church.

Among the museums are the old print shop of the local newspaper, a pharmacy, a general store and a miner's house. In the creek, the Diggings Museum shows the alluvial workings, and a guide demonstrates how gold was panned.

Above the valley, the miners' cemetery holds 19th-century graves, some with iron and stone headstones that record the origins of the prospectors who came from several countries.

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Before you go

Practical information

Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.

How much time to set aside

2 to 4 hours.

Best time

In the morning, to coincide with the guided visit to the workings. On weekends and public holidays the village is busier.

How to get there

It is about 15 km from Graskop via the R533; you park along the main street and visit on foot.

Tip

Buy the combined museums ticket at the information centre in the upper part of the village.

Official website

Opening hours, tickets and visiting rules (in Portuguese)

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Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Vila Histórica de Pilgrim's Rest

What to see in Pilgrim's Rest?

The main street with gold rush houses, the small museums, the Diggings Museum and the miners' cemetery.

Who found gold in Pilgrim's Rest?

The prospector Alec Patterson, known as Wheelbarrow, in 1873.

Until when was there mining in Pilgrim's Rest?

The mining company operated until 1972; afterwards the village was preserved as a museum.

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