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CASTLE OF GOOD HOPE CAPE TOWN
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  Cape Town Castle - The Castle of
Good Hope, Cape Town: A unique combination of history, fine wine, traditional
food, military ceremonies and craftsmanship awaits you at this pentagonal fortification.
Built between 1666 and 1679, the Castle is the oldest surviving building in South Africa.
The Castle, was, however, not the first fort to be built at the Cape. A quadrangular fort
was built after the arrival of Jan van Riebeeck in 1652, where the Grand Parade and the
main Post Office are situated today. However, the walls of the fort, which were
constructed mainly of clay, collapsed and required constant repairs.
In 1664 there were renewed rumours of war between Britain and the Netherlands and they
feared a British attack on the Cape. Zacharias Wagenaer was instructed to build a
five-pointed stone castle. The Castle was planned from a central point with five bastions,
named after the main titles of Willem, the Prince of Orange. The Western bastion was named
Leerdam, followed in clockwise order by Buuren, Catzenellenbogen, Nassau and Oranje.
 In 1936 the
Castle was declared a National Monument. The Castle of Good Hope houses the military
personnel of the SA army in the Western Cape, the famous William Fehr Collection of
historic artworks, the Castle Military Museum and ceremonial facilities for traditional
Cape Regiments.
This gateway - built in 1682 - replaced the old entrance which faced the sea. The bell
tower, situated above the main entrance, was bult in 1684. The original bell - the oldest
in South Africa - was cast in Amsterdam in 1697 by Claude Fremy and weighs 670 lbs. It was
used to toll the hours and warn citizens of danger and it could be heard 10km away. It was
also rung to call residents and soldiers to the Castle for important announcements. Inside
the walls of the Castle, are amongst others, a church, bakery, living quarters, offices,
cells and numerous other facilities. The yellow paint on the walls was chosen to reduce
the glare from the sunlight and also because it reflects the heat.
 The inner courtyard is divided by a wall, initially
intended to provide protection to the inhabitants in the event of an attack. The
well-known Kat Balcony is an outstanding feature of the dividing wall. The original
balcony was built in 1695, then rebuilt in its present form by the VOC between 1786 and
1790. From this balcony, proclamations and announcements were made to the soldiers, slaves
and civilians at the Cape. All judicial sentences were read here and official visitors
welcomed to the Castle. The balcony leads to the famous William Fehr Collection of
historical paintings and period furniture which have a special relevance to the Cape.
The original Dolphin Pool was named after the impressive fountain in the form of a dolphin
in the middle of the pool. It was possible to make a replica of the fountain by examining
sketches and descriptions made by Lady Anne Barnard during the late 1790's. The fountain
has been reconstructed from the remains of the clay floor and walls exposed in 1982. The
dolphin resembles a fish that is found in the Mediterranean. In the past, the dolphin or a
mythical sea monster was a popular maritime symbol, often used in maps and other objects. |
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 Overnight » Cape Town Central Accommodation
ranges from budget
to luxury hotels to self catering
apartments. Accommodation in the City Centre is in high demand so it advisable to book
your accommodation early to avoid dissapointment. |
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| Car Hire Cape Town - Hire from
international and local companies, which offer a wide range of cars, from budget to
luxury. For the best deals we recommend you book your car before travelling. |
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Cape Town City Tour |
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Bo-Kaap (Walking Tour) |
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Cape Township Tours |
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Cape Peninsula and Cape
Point |
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Scenic helicopter flights |
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Daily cruises and boat
trips |
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Cruise to Robben Island |
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Table Mountain Nature
Reserve |
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Table Bay and Waterfront |
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Kirstenbosch Botanical
Gardens |
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Constantia Wine Route |
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Cape Town by Night |
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Sanbona Big 5 Game Reserve |
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Swartland Tours &
Cedarberg |
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Spring Flower Tour |
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West Coast and Mountains |
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Cape Winelands Tour |
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Breede River Valley |
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Hermanus Whale Route |
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Cape Agulhas Lighthouse |
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Bontebok National Park |
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Jackass Penguin Colony |
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De Hoop Nature Reserve |
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Great Karoo Hikes & 4x4
Route |
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Garden Route and Oudtshoorn |
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Special interest tours for
botanists, geologists, artists, photographers, ornithologists, palaeontologists ... |
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