In the late 1600s, the Dutch East India Company constructed the Castle of Good Hope as a maritime resupply station, and over the years, it became the seat of administrative and military power in the cape until the settlement grew and the civilian functions moved into town.
Today, the castle is the oldest remaining building of the colonial era as well as the military's hub. Open to visitors, it houses the Castle Military Museum and the Iziko Museums of Cape Town. The latter is a fascinating collection of paintings, furnishings and ceramics dating back to the colonial period. Nearby the Castle and throughout Cape Town are the other Iziko museums, which include the South African Museum (dinosaurs, natural history and African artifacts), the Planetarium, the South African National Gallery and more. Also nearby are Green Point Common, an inner-city greenbelt, entertainment district and site of the new FIFA World Cup Stadium. Long Street, found in the nearby City Bowl neighborhood, is a bohemian neighborhood famous for its restaurants, shopping and bars.
Practical Info
In 2009, the castle hosted the Cape Town Military Tattoo, a series of military performances on par with world-famous tattoo in Edinburgh, Scotland. Visitors are treated to the majesty of military regalia and parade performance, most recently during the 2010 FIFA world cup.
Finding the castle is pretty easy - it's a 20-minute drive from Cape Town International Airport, on Strand St. near the Good Hope Centre
