Castle Of Good Hope History, Travel Information, Facts And More
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PERSONAL INFORMATION
NAME
Castle Of Good Hope
COUNTRY
South Africa
ADDRESS
Darling St & Buitenkant St, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
CASTLE OF GOOD HOPE PICTURE
More Information
About Castle Of Good Hope
The oldest surviving building in South Africa, the Castle of Good Hope was fortified sometime around the 16th century. It remains a place of historical significance and receives a lot of tourist traffic. There are various spots to explore here like the museum, the moat, Bell tower and so much more. Today, it also serves as the headquarters for the South African Military in the Western Cape province.
Some Lesser Known Facts About Castle Of Good Hope
- The castle is a well-known landmark in Cape Town. It was built in 1666 by the Dutch East India Company. They settled on the shores of Table Bay and built the castle for protection from the threat of war and to serve as a base for ships en route from Europe to East Asia, and to maintain their monopoly over the Spice Trade.
- The Castle of Good Hope is in the shape of a star with five points, called bastions. It was built like this so that soldiers could protect the walls in several directions. The bastions were named Leerdam, Buuren, Katzenellenbogen, Nassau, and Oranje ?after the main titles of Philip William, the Dutch Prince of Orange.
- In 1917, the Castle was passed onto the South African National Defense Force who still operates the Castle today. Later in the year 1936 the Castle was declared a National Monument.
- During the restoration process in the courtyard, the foundations of the early 18th century bakery and pool were discovered. The building, currently known as Het Bakhuys ('t Bakhuijs), was reconstructed on these foundations. There are also rebuilt sections of the Moat, which was once a part of the defense system.
- Apart from its historical significance, the Castle is also known for being one of the most haunted places in Cape Town. Workers and visitors report hearing voices and footsteps in the windowless dungeon and in the narrow corridors of the building. It is also said that the bell tower today, which was walled up a long time ago after a soldier allegedly hung himself with the bell rope, often is the source of the sound of ringing bells. Many reports of the nature have come to light.
- Another resident of the Castle is Lady Anne Barnard. She lived in the castle as Colony's the first Lady and as the first Lady, one of her many duties was to entertain distinguished guests. Some say that Lady Anne still makes these visits when important dignitaries visit the Castle.
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