Does Cape Town have a castle?
Today we answer the question: – Does Cape Town have a castle? Indeed it does. The Castle of Good Hope is known locally as “The Castle”. Its Dutch name is “Kasteel de Goede Hoop” and is a fort built by Dutch governors in the 17th century in Cape Town, South Africa.
“The Castle” is the oldest surviving building in South Africa built between 1666 and 1679. The Castle has a rich history and it has been the centre of civilian, political and military life at the Cape from approximately 1679.
The Castle buildings are in a great state of preservation as it ranks as best preserved examples of 17th century DEIC architecture on the entire globe. The Castle underwent extensive renovation between 2015 and 2016, positioning it well to become South Africa’s next UNESCO World Heritage Site.
However the castle was not the first fort to be constructed at the Cape. After the arrival of Jan van Riebeeck, the first Dutch governor of the Cape of Good Hope, a quadrangular (four-pointed) fort was built on the spot where the Grand Parade and the main Post Office are situated today.
A model of this original fort can be seen in the Castle Military Museum.
In 1662, Jan van Riebeeck was succeeded by Zacharias Wagenaer and after rumours of a new war between Britain and the Netherland, plans were made to build the current castle.
Fearing a British attack on the Cape, the Dutch India Company instructed Wagenaer to build a five-pointed stone Castle similar to other such fortifications in Europe and the East. The plans were of a castle constructed around a central point with five bulwarks known as bastions.
The site of The Castle was chosen in 1665 and under chief engineer, Pieter Dombaer it was built by slaves, Khoikhoi, burghers, and company workers.
After the foundations were dug in 1665, the cornerstones of the first bastion, later known as the Leerdam Bastion, were laid on the 2nd January 1666. Bulidning were now in full swing with a workforce of three hundred sailors, commandeered from passing ships, soldiers, local Khoikhoi, women and slaves.
After a 1667 peace accord, building on the Castle was delayed but did continue with a slower pace.. The first bastion, Leerdam, was completed on 5 November 1670. Buuren, Katzenellenbogen, Nassau and Oranje followed.
Peace did not last long and nn 1672 the outbreak of war in Europe caused the building of the Castle to be resumed with new vigour. The Castle was finally completed in 1679. It was called a Castle because, as in the case of other Castles in Europe, it was a defensive structure but it also comprised a small community or town of its own.
The community inside the castle walls hosted among other things a church, bakery, workshops, living quarters, offices, cells and numerous other facilities.
Local materials were used for constructing the castle. The slate used as paving in the Castle came from quarries on Robben Island and wood was brought from the port town of Hout Bay. The Castle is intrinsically linked to two of South Africa’s icons and UNESCO World Heritage sites – Table Mountain and Robben Island.
The Castle is open to visitors and is a must visit attraction when visiting Cape Town.
Read more here: – https://castleofgoodhope.co.za/