The Owl House - official video
An introductory video to Helen Martin's Owl House in the village of Nieu Bethesda in the Karoo region of South Africa.
Jessica Cope on Helen Martins and the Owl House
This is the owl house in the tiny South African village of Nieu Bethesda. Established animation artist and director jessica cope recollects her visit and explains why she was so moved as to base her first major production on Helen and The owl house. Jessica started work with filmmaker Tim Burton and all that she has produced to date based in the UK through her production company Owl House Studios . All by chance when her family took a back road through the Karoo.
Helen Martin's Owl House - Nieu Bethesda
Photographs by Marius Strachan
The Owl House in Nieu Bethesda
My visit to artist Helen Martin's The Owl House in Nieu Bethesda, Graaff Reinet, South Afric
OWL HOUSE NIEU BETHESDA SOUTH AFRICA MISS HELEN
From wheelchair nomad diary... 2003 SS I recalled Neville Cohen’s words. “You must see Owl’s House, owned by Miss Helen, a school teacher, who eventually committed suicide at 78 years of age, dying a horrible three day death from swallowing caustic soda. She was a recluse, who kept to herself, obsessed with colour and owls. She ground coloured glass in a coffee grinder and painted her rooms with fine coloured glass. She filled her entire back yard with cement figures, mostly of owls. The house is preserved as a national site and is the same as when she died.”
The house was well signed posted. Inside, I couldn’t decide if she were mad or an unappreciated artist. Richard commented, “If she were born earlier, she’d be burned as a witch, if she were in a different location like New York City, she’d be a rich venerated artist, here she was a sad obsessive hermit. I myself think she was sane, and an artist in exile, many kilometres from anyone to appreciate her talents.” There were many facets to her personality, those erotic photographs of women hanging on the wall, don’t fit the image of an aging spinster. The multiple bottles of preserves indicate other interests. The cement statues were everywhere, some incorporating wine bottles...
don pugh
The Owl House at Nieu Bethesda In The South African Karoo, Quirky and Creative Artistic Creations
Taking a road trip through to Nieu Bethesda, on a sizzling hot day when the mercury was hitting 40 Degrees, all in order to see an unusual place called the Owl House. Quirky, different, creative! It's all of those and more and so well worth a visit. If you do end up in the vicinity, make a plan to head over there yourself.
Until the 1940’s Nieu Bethesda was a vibrant and lively community, but it was eventually left behind by other larger towns in the region. Fortunately for us, the lack of further development left the village pretty much unchanged from as it was back then. A living, breathing time capsule and a green oasis in the bone dry Karoo, it's well worth a visit.
Most visitors to town are here to see The Owl House, which is the work of Helen Martins between 1945 and 1976. Suffering from depression, and driven to despair by the dullness of daily life in a remote village, she transformed her home with light, colour and texture. These days the Owl House attracts thousands of visitors every year to this tiny, remote village.
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We're Chris and Birgit from Kangela Travels; currently living in the beautiful Garden Route of South Africa (but prone to hit the road to somewhere else at any time). Our passion is to travel, and we’ve been fortunate enough to have done our share of exploring the world, cameras in hand. We're travel fanatics, keen anglers, photographers, videographers and occasional travel writers. With a particular weakness for road trips in the great open spaces of Africa, and exploring tropical Indian Ocean Islands. But actually, we're fans of anywhere that we haven’t yet been, wherever that might be.
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OWL HOUSE NIEU BETHESDA SOUTH AFRICA MISS HELEN 2003
21 - 3 years ago
From wheelchair nomad diary... 2003 SS I recalled Neville Cohens words. You must see Owls House, owned by Miss Helen, a school teacher, who eventually committed suicide at 78 years of age, dying a horrible three day death from swallowing caustic soda. She was a recluse, who kept to herself, obsessed with colour and owls. She ground coloured glass in a coffee grinder and painted her rooms with fine coloured glass. She filled her entire back yard with cement figures, mostly of owls. The house is preserved as a national site and is the same as when she died. The house was well signed posted. Inside, I couldnt decide if she were mad or an unappreciated artist. Richard commented, If she were born earlier, shed be burned as a witch, if she were in a different location like New York City, shed be a rich venerated artist, here she was a sad obsessive hermit. I myself think she was sane, and an artist in exile, many kilometres from anyone to appreciate her talents. There were many facets to her personality, those erotic photographs of women hanging on the wall, dont fit the image of an aging spinster. The multiple bottles of preserves indicate other interests. The cement statues were everywhere, some incorporating wine bottles... From wheelchair nomad diary... 2003 SS I recalled Neville Cohens words. You must see Owls House, owned by Miss Helen, a school teacher, who eventually committed suicide at 78 years of age, dying a horrible three day death from swallowing caustic soda. She was a recluse, who kept to herself, obsessed with colour and owls. She ground coloured glass in a coffee grinder and painted her rooms with fine coloured glass. She filled her entire back yard with cement figures, mostly of owls. The house is preserved as a national site and is the same as when she died. The house was well signed posted. Inside, I couldnt decide if she were mad or an unappreciated artist. Richard commented, If she were born earlier, shed be burned as a witch, if she were in a different location like New York City, shed be a rich venerated artist, here she was a sad obsessive hermit. I myself think she was sane, and an artist in exile, many kilometres from anyone to appreciate her talents. There were many face...all » From wheelchair nomad diary... 2003 SS I recalled Neville Cohens words. You must see Owls House, owned by Miss Helen, a school teacher, who eventually committed suicide at 78 years of age, dying a horrible three day death from swallowing caustic soda. She was a recluse, who kept to herself, obsessed with colour and owls. She ground coloured glass in a coffee grinder and painted her rooms with fine coloured glass. She filled her entire back yard with cement figures, mostly of owls. The house is preserved as a national site and is the same as when she died. The house was well signed posted. Inside, I couldnt decide if she were mad or an unappreciated artist. Richard commented, If she were born earlier, shed be burned as a witch, if she were in a different location like New York City, shed be a rich venerated artist, here she was a sad obsessive hermit. I myself think she was sane, and an artist in exile, many kilometres from anyone to appreciate her talents. There were many facets to her personality, those erotic photographs of women hanging on the wall, dont fit the image of an aging spinster. The multiple bottles of preserves indicate other interests. The cement statues were everywhere, some incorporating wine bottles...«
Nieu Bethesda - South Africa - Owlhouse by Ganora Guest Farm
The strange and wonderful Owl House started being created by Helen Martins in the 50's and were made famous by Athol Fugard in The Road to Mecca.
This is a favourite outing of guests staying at Ganora Guest Farm. ganora.co.za
2018 RSA, Day 16, The Owl House, In Nieu-Bethesda, Karoo, by HabariSalam
Trip : Cape, Garden Road, PE, Karoo, Khalagadi Park, South Namibia, Franschhoek, Kalk Bay
The Owl House Nieu Bethesda - Budget Accommodation Port Elizabeth http://www.belvederecottages.co.za
via YouTube Capture
The Owl House - South Africa
the owl house, niew bethesda, karoo; 1st internet connection since travels.
Nieu Bethesda. A short film.
A short film shot during my visit to Nieu Bethesda. An alluring village in the heart of the Karoo, one that offers the opportunity to escape to relax. That coupled with the luxury of fine accommodation, craft beer, local craft, a rich history and fabulous coffee. But its the people that make it special. Judging by the Owl House and the raconteur nature of all the locals I met, it appears its always been this way. Thank you for hosting us.
May this encourage many a visitor, see you in March! More online at: and at
A film by Chris Wait.
Filming inside Helen Martins Owl House Nieu Bethesda Wirework
Wirework by Daleen Kruger
Wirework is the story of Helen Martins, Koos Malgas and the creation of the ‘Owl House’. The play takes place in the village of Nieu Bethesda, South Africa. Written in 2009.
Into the Karoo: Nieu Bethesda
Nieu Bethesda is situated in the Eastern Cape and this town of the Karoo Heartland has crawled its way into visitors hearts. Visitors are captivated by the warm welcome, its tranquil streets, friendly hospitality (like only the Karoo can do), artistic atmosphere - from Helen Martins' Owl House to Frans Boekkooi's sculptures - home-brewed beer, the town's unique characters and the hearty goodbyes.
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A visit to Nieu Bethesda.
A visit to Nieu Bethesda captures the town's local sites and activities as well as the famous Owl House. It involves N1 road tripping. One stops. Donkey carts, local loveliness and horses in the street. No to Fracking. A brewery. Sunsets and sundowners. Sweet accommodation, beautiful food and a whole load of Karoo fuelled happiness.
Visit theincidentaltourist.com for more information on the secluded, tiny Karoo town.
The official video will be out soon, this for now. This was shot on my GoPro Hero3+. Filmed and edited by Eden Weiss for Dawn Jorgensen, The Incidental Tourist.
This video was shot 100% using a GoPro HERO3+ Black Edition. For more information and stockist details visit omnico.co.za Download the GoPro App to view other great videos like this one on WorldOfHeroesZA, the home of GoPro in South Africa.
South Africa - Nieu Bethesda
Nieu-Bethesda in the Karoo was founded in 1875 as a church town. It is home of the Owl House, a house turned into a visionary environment with more than 300 statues decorated with ground glass by its owner Helen Martins.
We visited South Africa on our overland trip from the Netherlands to South Africa and South America; see our channel for hundreds of clips.
The used background music is royalty free music: Four hands, two necks, one wreathing by Jon Sayles ( and Riding Heigh by Purple Planet Music (
Nieu-Bethesda New Bethesda
Nieu-Bethesda aka. New Bethesda in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The name is of biblical origin (John 5:2-4) and means place of flowing water. As you will see.
The Owl House Nieu Bethesda
Beschrijving
Nieu Bethesda Karoo Town Owl House Eastern Cape
The small town of Nieu Bethesda, near Graaff-Reinet is home to the inriguing Owl House created by eccentric Helen Martins.
Copyright to
Being Helen... { A Tribute to Helen Martins of the Owl House }
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