--- title: "Old-school elegance: Karoo-style in Ladismith" description: "Victorian-era buildings of the Klein Karoo that have escaped the developers’ wrecking ball." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "PHOTO ESSAY" author: "Chris Marais and Julienne du Toit" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/chrismaraisjuliennedutoit/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-02-26-oldschool-elegance-karoostyle-in-ladismith/" published: "2026-02-26T07:00:00" updated: "2026-02-19T08:56:52" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 585 --- # Old-school elegance: Karoo-style in Ladismith > Victorian-era buildings of the Klein Karoo that have escaped the developers’ wrecking ball. By Chris Marais and Julienne du Toit · Published 26 February 2026, 09:00 SAST · Updated 19 February 2026, 10:56 SAST ## Key points - Explore the architectural gems of Ladismith, in the heart of the Klein Karoo, spotlighting lesser-known Victorian-era buildings. - Discover the rich history behind the Otto Hager Church, a Neo-Gothic masterpiece transformed into a tourism hub. - Wander down Church Street and marvel at the eclectic styles, from Georgian to Art Deco, each with its own captivating story. - Meet local residents whose lives intertwine with these historic structures, revealing a vibrant community steeped in charm and heritage. ## Content Consider, for a moment, the glorious Otto Hager Church at the base of Church Street in Ladismith, where much of the Klein Karoo’s remarkably diverse architecture is to be found. It is a pure example of a building that is pleasing to look at and photograph. Its story is also great: the brilliance of [Carl Otto Hager](https://artefacts.co.za/main/Buildings/archframes.php?archid=674), designer of more than 25 Neo-Gothic styled churches in South Africa, the fact that it was rebuilt twice, that it was used as a lucerne store by farmers for decades, and that the steeple was also rebuilt. That it is now the home of Ladismith Tourism, with a small but interesting museum attached. ### Down Church Street Church Street deserves a slow drive, a slow walk, or maybe several of both. There are the missionary churches, simple thatched cottages and a number of old Karoo houses with Ladismith Eyes for summer ventilation. One householder has incorporated a Ladismith Eye into his gate. As you walk through the town, you can reel off the various styles: Victorian, Georgian, Edwardian, Art Deco, Karoo Style, Ladismith Style, Ostrich Palace pomp, Cape Dutch Revival. There’s even a Lithuanian-style synagogue that is now tragically falling apart. Architectural guru [Hans Fransen](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4544502-a-guide-to-the-old-buildings-of-the-cape) describes the classic Ladismith Style as: “Flat roofed with a low second storey pierced by round ventilator windows.” We rise in the half-dark and stroll slowly around town, photographing dwellings in the were-light. In the evenings, we work in the twilight hour. There is a sense of triumph as one finds another interesting bargeboard, *holbol* or Flemish gable, a modest Feather Boom mansion, a finial, a fishtail turret, and unusual hutters. ### Curtain twitching Sometimes people having their first cup of coffee and a rusk on their stoep in the morning, spot us and rush back inside. Others strike up conversations. One woman pulls over and says she lives in a nearby labourer’s cottage and has never been happier, growing her own food and being in harmony with the land. Her former city life entailed renting out costumes to advertising film crews. Then we see a woman peering out from a sweet little house wedged between a few Ladismith beauties. She turns out to be Rebecca Kannemeyer, who has been living here for 31 years. She has come out onto the street to chat with her neighbour who lives opposite. The departing sun lights up the contrails overhead, the remains of some city-to-city flight. We wish Rebecca and her neighbour well and continue, keeping a beady eye out for interesting buildings, with an interesting array of Ladismith Eyes keeping watch on us. ![ladismith-karoo](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/MBb8nj1BeauBxOOp5lMXk4BFJ1g=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/TheVinknesBuildingwithitscast-ironbalcony_ChrisMarais_709606.jpg) *The Vinknes Building, with its cast-iron balcony. (Photo: Chris Marais)* ![ladismith-karoo](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/luxlUcoXd9qecCgCQ1TLRi9LGLc=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/TypicalLadismithKaroostylelowdouble-storeyflatroofwithportalsfortemperaturecontrol_ChrisMarais_926670.jpg) *Typical Ladismith Karoostyle low double-storey, flat roof, with portals for temperature control. (Photo: Chris Marais)* ![ladismith-karoo](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/N_OsIEEpcAHj9lMGtc164dry90I=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/ThefamousLadismithEyebuilttocapturethebreezes_ChrisMarais_122579.jpg) *The famous Ladismith Eye, built to capture the breezes. (Photo: Chris Marais)* ![ladismith-karoo](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/2rboLQa9V8vTHEcXhmxOzm_QayE=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/Victorian-eraHouseHeymanoriginalfamilyphotograph_ChrisMarais_629273.jpg) *Victorian-era House Heyman – original family photograph. (Photo: Chris Marais)* ![ladismith-karoo](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/4_a-Q5fSeDb_6xLrP8ue0h822Bk=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/Thelate-VictorianstyledAlbertManor_ChrisMarais_548321.jpg) *The late-Victorian styled Albert Manor. (Photo: Chris Marais)* ![ladismith-karoo](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/ZkeptxBpAUazAiLBKEoV-z2J0Ls=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/TheLutheranChurchpaintedinmissionary-yellow_ChrisMarais_588647.jpg) *The Lutheran Church, painted in ‘missionary-yellow’. (Photo: Chris Marais)* ![ladismith-karoo](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/A_yrwUIjU08jrR2QlT9_YBFSw-M=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/ThePentecostalProtestantChurchnowaNationalMonument_ChrisMarais_558230.jpg) *The Pentecostal Protestant Church, now a National Monument. (Photo: Chris Marais)* ![ladismith-karoo](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/3bdbhP-uDE4NqenU2lZL7RgDkf0=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/TheoriginalstablesaretodayarepartoftheLeRouxBB_ChrisMarais_775050.jpg) *The original stables are today are part of the Le Roux B&B. (Photo: Chris Marais)* ![ladismith-karoo](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/4ZpIA626FuqK1EziMCiERFB46CU=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/TheoldRoyalHotelwhichbeganlifeastheTowerkopHotelandisnowaresidentialblock_ChrisMarais_448710.jpg) *The old Royal Hotel, which began life as the Towerkop Hotel and is now a residential block. (Photo: Chris Marais)* ![ladismith-karoo](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/HIYf48pjA4vaBCdSClOTeK6fhNE=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/TheoldLithuanianJewishSynagogue_ChrisMarais_278583.jpg) *The old Lithuanian Jewish Synagogue. (Photo: Chris Marais)* *Klein Karoo Magic (390 pages, full colour) by Chris Marais and Julienne du Toit will be released in mid-May, 2026. To pre-order your author-signed copy (R400 including SA courier service), email Julie at [julie@karoospace.co.za](mailto:julie@karoospace.co.za)* ![Image](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/zQifgbk1JDT2I3VifMSmdc1qrCM=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/2988/HeaderKLEINKAROO_510874.jpg)