Clarens, Eastern Free State

Clarens, a small Town situated in the Eastern Free State which was established in 1912. The Village of Clarens, was a result of two Farms being sold; 'Leliehoek' and Naauwpoort'. The two Farms were then divided into plots and sold for fifty Pounds each! This became a Village and was named Clarens, after the History that President Paul Kruger was a voluntarily exile for his his last days in the Town of Clarens, in Switzerland!
Clarens often referred to as a ‘jewel’ of the Free State, and one such ‘jewel’ is it’s Titanic Rock. The most notable sandstone cliff in the Area and is situated just 2 kms North of Clarens. The uniquely shaped rock forms part of Clarens History as it was named by a resident, after the Titanic ship tragically sunk. This was so named due to its remarkable resemblance and being shaped like the bow of the ship!
Many of the Homes and Buildings in Clarens are built using local sandstone, giving them a particular appeal. The Artists' Amble is a route that takes in the local art Galleries run by and supplied, by local artists. A great variety of fossils from teeth, claws and limb bones indicate that there were prehistoric giants of dinosaurs that roamed in the Town before the bush men, who were the first people to dwell in the Town came into the scene. As evident of Khoisan Hunter gatherers shown on the Town’s, rock art.