Renowned playwright Athol Fugard may have been onto something when he chose a little known village at the foot of the Eastern Cape's Sneeuberg Mountains for inspiration for some of his most famous plays.

In the picturesque village of Nieu-Bethesda the clock seems to have stopped sometime in the 1930s, when simplicity was a way of life, the dusty streets were filled with horse-drawn carts and the only relief from the Great Karoo?s heat was an afternoon 'koffie' on the front stoep.

Today, not much has changed. The locals still watch the world go by (albeit slowly) from their front porches and about the only thing that's changed in the last 100 years is the influx of tourists, who have discovered this gem tucked away in the Eastern Cape hinterland.

Established in 1875, Nieu-Bethesda, has also become something of a retreat for offbeat artists, crafters and other creative spirits, who are attracted by the town's heritage, peace and natural beauty.

? Book a bed in Nieu Bethesda

Thanks to the narrow fertile valley in which it lies, the town is a lush green oasis amongst the dry plains of the Karoo. Virtually cut off from the rest of the province (there are only two roads in and out) it has no streetlights, but locals insist that it?s safe to walk the streets night and day.

Development has been rare here, and it's precisely this rustic country feel that is attracting a growing stream of tourists willing to venture well off the beaten track.

Concrete owls and caustic soda

But the village?s star attraction is not the peace and quiet, the crisp Karoo air or serene way of life, but rather a monument to the life of one of South Africa's most misunderstood artists.

Any tourist's first stop in town is sure to be the world-famous Owl House, the icon of Nieu-Bethesda. The house was once the home of Helen Martins, who lived here alone until 1976, when she committed suicide by swallowing caustic soda. A recluse for the last few decades of her life, it was only after her death that the remarkable transformation of her home into a magnificent piece of art was fully appreciated and recognised.

Inspired by biblical texts, the poetry of Omar Khayyam, and the works of William Blake, 'Miss Helen' set out to "bring colour into her life" by creating a home from her imagination, combining magnificent cement statues with stained glass creations. Today, the Owl House is a national monument and her artwork, viewed with derision, embarrassment and suspicion while she was alive, has become Nieu- Bethesda's most prized possession.

Wandering the streets of the village, it's hard not to notice the imposing Compassberg Mountains towering above. Soaring to 2540 metres high, the mountain offers avid hikers and nature lovers an opportunity to get a bird's eye view of the area. All routes lead to the top of the mountain, which offers breathtaking views of the valley below.

Down in the valley is Ganora Guest Farm, which lies on rich fossil beds dating back over 200-million years. Sheep farmers Hester and JP Steynberg moved to the area about six years ago and discovered the ancient fossils in the flinty rock along with shelters once used by indigenous San Bushmen. A private museum on the site showcases a range of fossils and Bushmen artefacts.

From palaeontology to prayers, it's hard not to notice the imposing spire of the enormous Dutch Reformed Church. Occupying pride of place in the centre of town, the church seats up to 700 people and is still to this day lit by gas chandeliers.

It might have God and art, but the village is short on two things; petrol and cash. True to its turn-of-the-century charm, there's no petrol station or ATM in Nieu Bethesda, so if you want to draw cash and fill up you'll have to head for Graaff-Reinet, some 60km away. A small price to pay for soaking up the charm and tranquillity of Nieu-Bethesda.