Castle of Good Hope

The Castle of Good Hope or Kasteel de Goede Hoop is a fortress in Cape Town, South Africa. It was built in the years 1666 to 1679 and is the oldest European, still preserved in the original building in South Africa.

History

The wooden predecessor was built in 1652 by Jan van Riebeeck on behalf of the Dutch East India Company. This was replaced by a modern fortress in the form of a pentagon. The five bastions were named after the titles of William II of Orange. The western bastion was named Leerdam, followed by Buuren, Catzenellenbogen, Nassau and Oranje (clockwise).

The Pentagon with corner bastions goes back to ideas of the French military architect Vauban, who was at the same time the Dutch -Prussian War worked. After the British takeover of the Cape Province resided here Lady Anne Barnard and let 1797-1802 the interior in the style of the English Regency expand.

The fort was originally on the seafront, the original north entrance had to be relocated due to frequent storm surges to the west. Only in the 1940s came through the embankment of the harbor bay ( Foreshore ) the current internal situation about.

Pictures

Main entrance

Balcony