Discover the oldest surviving stone building in South Africa. Find out about the styles of architecture that depict the culture and history of Cape Town and the Western Cape.

Castle of Good Hope

The Castle of Good Hope is the oldest surviving stone building in South Africa. Situated in the Cape Town city centre, it is a visitor attraction with an interesting museum and good restaurant. The Castle is also the administrative military headquarters of the Western Cape.

Construction on the Castle of Good Hope started in 1666 and it took 13 years to complete the building. The Castle is a pentagonal shape and the names of the five bastions are Leerdam, Buuren, Catzenellenbogen, Nassau and Oranje. They were named after the main titles of Willem, the Prince of Orange, crown prince to the Dutch throne.

The Castle formed the centre of community life and administration. The Castle housed a bakery, a church, offices, cells and living quarters. The Kat Balcony was constructed in 1695. Proclamations, judicial sentences and announcements were made from this balcony. Official visitors to the Castle were also welcomed here.

The gateway to the Castle was built in 1682 and it replaced the previous gateway. The bell tower above the entrance was constructed two years later. The bell was only cast in 1697 in Amsterdam and is the oldest bell in South Africa.

The Castle was declared a national monument in 1936. The moat, the Dolphin Pool and Het Bakhuys were reintroduced in the 1980?s. Today the Castle is the best preserved example of Dutch fortification in the world.

The Castle houses a military museum, the William Fehr Collection of artworks and period pieces, a collection of antique furniture used at the Cape in Secunda?s House and the Grain Cellar Museum. The Grain Cellar museum displays a collection of bones, portraits and cutlery found when digging a hole in the cellar. Other attractions include the two dungeons (the Torture Chamber and the Dark Hole) and the Garrison Cells. The De Goewerneur Restaurant inside Het Bakhuys serves traditional Cape cuisine and wine.

The Castle of Good Hope is open to visitors from 09h00 to 16h00 every day except Christmas Day and New Years Day.

Architecture

The architecture of the Cape depicts the culture and history of the area. Architecture has been strongly influenced by the Dutch, British and more recently by more contemporary African style.

The Castle of Good Hope is the oldest surviving building in the Cape. Its design is of Dutch origin and was built by Commander Zacharius Wagenaer. Dutch designs are to be seen in the Mission Station villages and homesteads on farms. Features of the Dutch design are the white painted plastered walls, gables and thatched roofs. Gables were built from about 1760 to 1830. They owe their uniqueness to the use of local materials, and to their adaptation to local requirements. Today, most of the thatched roofs have been replaced by corrugated roofs.

The British influence is to be seen in the design and structure of many homes. The influence is from the Victorian era. Bay windows, pitched roofs and a garden are some of the features of this style of architecture. A number of buildings especially in Cape Town, are also designed to Victorian era standards. The designs feature pillars and columns and attention to detail in the finishing. St George's Cathedral in Cape Town is an example of Victorian era design and finishing. Bo-Kaap in Cape Town features rows of houses built in the Cape Georgian style. This style is also to be seen in the Mamre Mission Station village and at Genadendal.

The design and construction of buildings today are modern, contemporary and influenced from a number of places around the world. The Cape has also seen a drive to restore many of the older buildings. In the townships of the Cape, a new form of architecture and design has developed. This is referred to as shac chic. Township dwellers use simple materials and waste products to build and decorate their houses. Wallpaper may be made from tin cans or bottle tops while the exterior walls are brightly painted. This is an expression of people's creativity and pride in their community. This is architecture in true African style.