Bethlehem Freestate

Bethlehem, situated in a fertile valley of the Maluti Mountains on the N5 highway, is the largest commercial, industrial & educational centre in the eastern Free State & the northern terminus of the mountain route.
The original settlers found that wheat flourished in the valley & hence the town was named Bethlehem (house of bread). Bethlehem was founded by the Voortrekkers during the 1840's & is the setting for a number of historical sandstone buildings, many of which are now provincial heritage sites.