Paternoster, South Africa

{{More citations needed|date=December 2009}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Paternoster | image_skyline = Paternoster South Africa 1.jpg | image_caption = The fisherman's village of Paternoster | pushpin_map = South Africa Western Cape#South Africa | coordinates = {{coord|32|49|S|17|53|E|region:ZA|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = [[South Africa]] | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = [[Western Cape]] | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = [[West Coast District Municipality|West Coast]] | subdivision_type3 = Municipality | subdivision_name3 = [[Saldanha Bay Local Municipality|Saldanha Bay]] | subdivision_type4 = Main Place | established_title = Established | leader_title = Councillor | area_footnotes = <ref name="census2011">{{cite web |url=http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/163003 |title = Main Place Paternoster |work=Census 2011}}</ref> | area_total_km2 = 2.49 | population_footnotes = <ref name="census2011" /> | population_total = 1971 | population_as_of = 2011 | population_density_km2 = auto  | demographics_type1 = Racial makeup (2011) | demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="census2011" /> | demographics1_title1 = [[Bantu peoples of South Africa|Black African]] | demographics1_info1 = 16.0% | demographics1_title2 = [[Coloureds|Coloured]] | demographics1_info2 = 71.5% | demographics1_title3 = [[Indian South African|Indian]]/[[Asian South African|Asian]] | demographics1_info3 = 0.3% | demographics1_title4 = [[White South African|White]] | demographics1_info4 = 11.6% | demographics1_title5 = Other | demographics1_info5 = 0.6%  | demographics_type2 = [[First language]]s (2011) | demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="census2011" /> | demographics2_title1 = [[Afrikaans]] | demographics2_info1 = 82.6% | demographics2_title2 = [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]] | demographics2_info2 = 9.1% | demographics2_title3 = [[South African English|English]] | demographics2_info3 = 5.7% | demographics2_title4 = [[South African Sign Language|Sign language]] | demographics2_info4 = 1.0% | demographics2_title5 = Other | demographics2_info5 = 1.5%   | timezone1 = [[South African Standard Time|SAST]] | utc_offset1 = +2 | postal_code_type = [[List of postal codes in South Africa|Postal code]] (street) | postal_code = 7381 | postal2_code_type = [[Post-office box|PO box]] | postal2_code = — | area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in South Africa|Area code]] | area_code = 022 }} [[Image:Paternoster South Africa 2.JPG|thumb|Fisherman selling his catch of the day at the beach of Paternoster]] '''Paternoster''' (pronounced {{IPAc-en|ˌ|p|ɑː|t|ɜr|ˈ|n|ɒ|s|t|ɜr}}) is one of the oldest fishing villages on the [[West Coast, Western Cape|West Coast]] of [[South Africa]]. It is situated 15 km north-west of [[Vredenburg]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Route27(Public Domain)|url=http://www.route27sa.com/paternoster.html}}</ref> and 145 km north of [[Cape Town]], at [[Cape Columbine]] between [[Saldanha Bay]] and [[St Helena Bay]]. The town covers an area of 194.8 hectare and has approximately 1883 inhabitants.

The origin of the name remains unknown. Many people believe that the name, which means ‘Our Father’ in Latin, refers to prayers said by Catholic Portuguese seamen when they became shipwrecked.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)|url=https://archive.org/details/DictionaryOfSouthernAfricanPlaceNames|publisher=Human Science Research Council|page=360}}</ref> It appears as St. Martins Paternoster on an old map of [[Pieter Mortier]] so the name may be derived from [[Paternoster Row]] in the City of London which is adjacent to St. Martins Court.<ref>{{cite book |last=Botha |first=Colin Graham|year=1926 |title=Place names in the Cape Province}}</ref> Other people believe it refers to the beads that the Khoi tribe wore that were called Paternosters.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wide Blue(Public Domain)|url=http://www.wideblue.co.za/paternoster.html|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412233008/http://www.wideblue.co.za/paternoster.html|archivedate=2013-04-12}}</ref>

==Economy and tourism==

Paternoster is a tourist destination and is known for lobster and the white-washed fishermen's cottages. The coastline consists of jagged cliffs, white boulders and beaches stretch along the [[West Coast, Western Cape|West Coast]] of [[South Africa]]. The town boast many hotels and guest houses. They cater for couples to families, from luxury to self catering accommodation. Paternoster has many top restaurants serving the best cuisine and also has one of the world's best restaurants called Wolfgat.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theworlds50best.com/the-list/41-50/Wolfgat.html |title = Wolfgat {{!}} The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2021 {{!}} Ranked No. 50}}</ref>

The area is a pillar in the South African commercial fishing industry.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} The town itself has a lobster factory and a newly erected [[Kabeljou]] farm, whilst the local people catch and sell herring, or draw mussels from the rocks. In the greater area are several more commercial activities, including deep sea fishing, snoek catching, [[abalone]] farming, oyster farming, canning of pilchards and mussel farming. The oyster farm in the lagoon of the neighbouring town of [[Langebaan]] is currently the largest in South Africa. The West Coast rock lobster ''[[Jasus lalandii]]'' was enjoyed by the first Portuguese navigators.<ref>{{cite web|title=Route27(Public Domain)|url=http://www.route27sa.com/crayfish.html}}</ref> By 1902 a full-blown lobster industry was in operation, canning and exporting lobster to France in particular. The West Coast lobster industry generates millions each year and employs large numbers of the local people.

In the 1930s the first Redro factory was erected in Paternoster.<ref name="André Kleynhans">{{cite web|title=Paternoster(Public Domain)|website = [[YouTube]]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sl2nFlBNQKE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/Sl2nFlBNQKE| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Redro fish paste was developed by the Stephan family in an effort to compete with the already popular Peck's Anchovette of Britain. It flew off the shelves when first released and enjoyed nearly three decades of uncompromising sole monopoly in the savoury spread market and is now owned by Pioneer Food Group.<ref>{{cite web|title=Redro(Public Domain)|url=http://www.bokomo.co.za/products/view-brand/redro|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527155958/http://www.bokomo.co.za/products/view-brand/redro|archivedate=2013-05-27}}</ref>

The Cape [[Bokkoms]] has been well known in this region and has been a cheap and practical source of protein for centuries. The unique method of preparing and drying fish has grown with leaps and bounds, often for export, in response to the growing demand for the product from South Africa.<ref>{{cite web|title=Route27(Public Domain)|url=http://www.route27sa.com/fishindustry.html}}</ref>

==Climate== The climate is mostly known for its infrequent rainfall, dry countryside and high offshore winds. The area receives most of its rainfall during winter and has a Mediterranean climate. The climate supports the growth of the wild flowers that the West Coast is known for.<ref>{{cite web|title=SA Explorer(Public Domain)|url=http://www.saexplorer.co.za/south-africa/climate/paternoster_climate.asp|access-date=2013-04-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026002250/http://www.saexplorer.co.za/south-africa/climate/paternoster_climate.asp|archive-date=2012-10-26|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Activities in the area== *The area has an array of interesting sea life and wildlife to observe. Activities include whale, dolphin, seal and penguin watching as well as bird watching with over 225 bird species in the area. *Sporting activities range from [[kayaking]], [[kitesurfing]], [[snorkelling]], [[scuba diving]], kite flying, hiking, and for the brave – swimming in the cold West Coast water! *During spring the area is transformed into a floral paradise, with wild flowers growing everywhere forming the South-Western fringe of the famous flower carpets of [[Namaqualand]]. *Visitors can pay a visit to the [[Cape Columbine]] nature reserve. The reserve covers an area of 263 hectare along the rocky stretch of coastline. The bay, which is part of the reserve, has many picnic spots and braai facilities. *Cape Columbine light house is the last manually controlled lighthouse in South Africa. The lighthouse was built in 1936 on Castle Rock. The light cast a beam which is visible from about 50 km and is usually the first South African lighthouse seen by ships coming from Europe.

<gallery mode="packed"> File:Bokkoms - whole, salted and dried mullet.jpg|Bokkoms - whole, salted and dried mullet File:Paternoster Bay.jpg|Paternoster Bay File:Fisherman's boats.jpg|Fisherman's boats File:Paternoster-beach.jpg|The beach in Paternoster </gallery>

==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links== *{{wikivoyage-inline|Paternoster}}

[[Category:Populated places in the Saldanha Bay Local Municipality]]