Brazil
Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
French Guiana
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Germany
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Denmark
Spain
Finland
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Hungary
Ireland
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Norway
Poland
Portugal
the United Kingdom
the Czech Republic
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Mexico
the Dominican Republic
Fiji
Fortress · Cidade do Cabo, Cabo Ocidental
Castle of Good Hope
A five-pointed fort built by the Dutch between 1666 and 1679, the oldest building in South Africa, with a military museum and an art collection.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Castle of Good Hope
The Castle of Good Hope was built by the Dutch East India Company between 1666 and 1679 to replace the mud-and-timber fort erected by Jan van Riebeeck in 1652. It is the oldest building in South Africa and one of the company's best-preserved forts in the world.
The plan is a pentagon with a bastion at each point, named for the titles of the Prince of Orange: Leerdam, Buuren, Katzenellenbogen, Nassau and Oranje. It originally stood on the edge of Table Bay; with subsequent land reclamation it is now some distance from the sea. The main entrance features a bell tower with a bell from 1697.
Inside, a wall divides the courtyard in two. There is the Kat Balcony, the platform from which announcements were made to soldiers, settlers and enslaved people. The site houses a military museum, the William Fehr collection of colonial-era paintings and furniture, and the old cells.
The fortress still contains Army facilities, and there are changing-of-the-guard ceremonies and a cannon firing on some days of the week.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From 1 to 2 hours.
Best time
In the morning, to see the changing of the guard on the days it takes place. Check days and times on the website.
How to get there
It’s on Buitenkant Street in the centre, a 5-minute walk from the Grand Parade and the central station.
Tip
Combine it with the District Six Museum, a few blocks away, and the Grand Parade, where Mandela spoke after his release in 1990.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Castle of Good Hope
What is the oldest building in South Africa?
The Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town, built by the Dutch between 1666 and 1679.
What to see at the Castle of Good Hope?
The bastions and ramparts, the Kat Balcony, the military museum, the William Fehr collection and, on some days, the changing of the guard.
Is the Castle of Good Hope in the centre?
Yes, on Buitenkant Street, near the Grand Parade and the central station.