The small town in South Africa that has one art gallery for every 330 people who live there
Clarens is a small town nestled at the foot of the Maluti mountain range, with approximately three art galleries for every 1,000 residents.
The town is part of the Free State and is within driving distance of Bloemfontein and Gauteng, making it a popular local holiday spot.
It has a lot of appeal for families staying in inland parts of South Africa, as it is closer than coastal holiday spots such as Durban and Cape Town.
The town is named after a village in Switzerland, where Paul Kruger lived after being exiled from South Africa.
Kruger played a major role in the area’s history, and the town was named in recognition of his role in the founding of the Free State.
The town is known for its wide offerings for tourists, with a standout being its strong artistic community and galleries.
Clarens has approximately 20 permanent art galleries, with exhibitions constantly rotating among well-known South African artists.
The town has the highest concentration of art galleries in the country, earning it the unofficial title of South Africa’s art capital.
While hundreds of thousands of tourists visit the town each year, official census data records only 751 people living in the town proper.
When combined with the adjoining township of Kgubetswana, this pushes the urban population of the region to about 6,500 people—or one art gallery per 330 people.
The town’s reputation for art eventually led to the founding of the Clarens Art Festival, an annual event that draws thousands of attendees.
In 2026, the festival featured approximately 5,000 people and offered exhibitions of paintings, sculptures, and numerous other media.
The Clarens art scene does not only involve current artists – the town sits close to several San rock art locations.
These sites are closely protected and are accessible through hikes and guided tours in the nearby Golden Gate Highlands National Park.
Clarens not only features an art festival but also hosts several events, including a craft beer festival, a cherry festival at the start of the harvest, and a new festival of lights.
The high altitude and moderate climate in the town and its surrounds make it an ideal spot for farming niche crops such as cherries and fruits.
Agriculture plays an important role in the area’s tourism, fuelling the speciality restaurants and craft food and drinks.
The great outdoors
Along with its art scene and festivals, Clarens is well known for its outdoor activities and its appeal to hikers and climbers.
The town is close to the Maluti mountain range, which acts as the border between South Africa and Lesotho.
The mountains near Clarens are a good spot for climbers, with the area’s unique natural sandstone cliff faces providing interesting challenges.
The area’s sandstone is a noticeable feature of the mountains and was used to build many of the historic buildings in Clarens.
Close proximity to the Golden Gate National Park also contributes to the town’s appeal, with easy access to hiking and camping.
Hiking routes in the area range in distance and difficulty, offering both shorter day hikes and multi-day challenges for those with enough experience.
Other things to do in the area include hot air balloon rides, white water rafting, and mountain biking, catering to a variety of outdoor activities.
Clarens is also known for its proximity to Afriski, one of the few ski resorts in Southern Africa, which is open in winter, depending on snowfall.
Due to its high altitude, Clarens is one of the coldest areas in South Africa and regularly experiences snowfall in winter.
In summer, the high altitude helps Clarens avoid the high temperatures often seen in other parts of inland South Africa.
Overall, the town relies heavily on tourism for its local economy, with its other large sectors, such as agriculture, also feeding into this industry.
The area’s tourism is boosted not only by the events and activities in the town but also by the impressive natural beauty surrounding it.
Photos of Clarens
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