Description of the attraction
Close to Cape Town's main train station is the Castle of Good Hope. It is a perfectly preserved fort, built by the Dutch in January 1666 to support and protect the spice trade from the East Indies.
Until the middle of the 17th century, the Portuguese dominated the spice trade. But by alliance with the Spanish crown in the war against the Dutch in 1580, the Portuguese empire became a suitable target for the Dutch. In those days, trading activities were very dangerous and risky, not only because of piracy, possible shipwreck and sickness of sailors, but also because of the spice trade itself, which could simply go bad. The best way to manage these risks was to form a cartel.
Since its inception, the bastion has experienced many hardships. He was constantly under threat of demolition for personal and material gain. But all these years, the Castle of Good Hope remained the center of life on the cape. The fort served as a food station for the Dutch East India Company, and also defended logistical and financial interests on the Spice Route. The Castle of Good Hope was coveted by sailors who spent up to 6 months on a voyage, calling Cape Town the "Tavern of the Seas".
The fort is built of gray-blue stone with small inlays of small yellow brick and is a unique example of 17th century Dutch classicism. The moat that encloses the bastion was previously part of the castle's defensive system, but was modified during the restoration in 1992. The coat of arms of the United Netherlands can still be seen on the pediment, which depicts a crowned lion sitting on its hind legs, holding seven arrows of unity.
In the 20th century, the castle was the headquarters of the South African army in the Western Cape. Its five-pointed image is applied to the flag of the South African troops, and is also the basis of some of the military insignia.
Today, six flags are waving at the entrance to the castle, crowning it throughout history, from the Dutch to the modern flag of the Republic of South Africa.
In 1936, the Castle of Good Hope was included in the list of national monuments of South Africa.
