A recent survey conducted by a prominent woman's magazine identified Parys as one of the top ten country weekend breakaway destinations in South Africa. Art Lovers Art Lovers masterfully captures the love affair we all have with life, art and food. Built in 1942 this quaint church, once destroyed by fire (set alight by a small boy), continues its life and mission as an art gallery, wedding and country restaurant in 2003. Art Lovers has a selection of exquisite handmade merchandise, undistinguished styled silverware and unique ceramics by artist Rika Senekal Crots. Speaking the language of ordinary people Art Lovers promises to be a destination of choice. This quaint Restaurant has a special motto: “ Remember to show hospitality There are some who, by so doing, Have entertained angles without knowing it.” Pine Antiques – 1973 This very special Antique store is well known for their Antique Furniture through out South Africa. Oaktree Junction Dealers in fine things, collectables and art. Great variety of garden pots and succulent plants. www.oaktreejunction.co.za Vredefort Dome The unique area in which the town of Parys is situated, had its origins roughly around 2 000 million years ago a giant meteorite struck the earth just south east of where Vredefort is situated today. The impact structure that was subsequently formed has become known as the Vredefort Dome because of the dome shape geological formation that resulted from the impact. Its is one of the oldest and largest meteorite impact site on earth, measuring about 200km in diameter and today host a variety of unique and interesting ecosystems and a rich collection of geological formations and archaeological sites. Its is quite difficult to see the entire impact crater from ground level, due to its wide diameter. The mountains are stretching from the southwest to the north of Parys forms a half circle, which represents one half of the inner and best-preserved ring of the crater.The other half of the crater’s ring have either eroded away or have been assimilated back into the earths crust due to the continental movements over millions of years. The half circle can be seen well from an aerial perspective. It is also speculated that the rich gold deposits of the Witwatersrand could have been brought to the surface by the cataclysmic impact of the Vredefort Meteorite.