Castle of Good Hope

It was not a very long walk to the Castle to catch the early history of the Dutch colony. While the Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive at the Cape in 1488, there was little European contact until the Dutch East India Company (VOC). a commercial operation but with the mandate, reach and military power of a nation, established a halfway supply station in 1652. As trade grew and the Dutch began to import workers from Malaysia and settlers arrived, the VOC built this castle from 1666 to 1679, and it is the oldest building in South Africa.

The VOC was not able to support their empire, and after the English captured the Cape in 1795 when the Dutch were allies of France, it was returned to the Dutch government after peace, but fell to the English yet again in 1805 when the Dutch were again allies of Napoleon. So, it is a nice strong looking fort but did not prevent conquest in the end.,

Today, it has been well restored with some late 17th century rooms on display and a small museum of the military history,

It was then a reasonable walk back home where I arrived at 13h30 having had over 5 hours which is quite enough time on my feet for one day,Read more