Castle+of+Good+Hope


 * The Castle of Good Hope was built between 1666 and 1679 by Jon Von Riebeeck and the Dutch East India Company as a maritime replenishment station. It is located in Capetown, South Africa. The Castle of Good Hope is the oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa. It replaced an older fort called the Fort de Goede Hoop which was constructed from clay and timber. **
 * During 1664, tensions between Britain and the Netherlands lead to upcoming rumors of war. That same year Zacharias Wagenaer successor to Jan Von Riebeeck, was instructed by commissioner Isbrand Gaske to build pentagonal fortress out of stone. In 1682, a bell tower was situated over the main entrance. The original bell, which is now the oldest in South Africa, was cast in Amsterdam in 1697 by the East Frision bellmaker Claude Fremy. The bell was used to announce the time, as well as warning citizens in case of danger, since it could be heard from 10 kilometers away. It was also rung to notify residents and soldiers when important announcements needed to be made. During the second Boer War, part of the castle was used as a prison. The castle acted as local headquarters for the South African army in the Western Cape and today houses the Castle Military Museum and ceremonial facilities for the traditional Cape Regiments. **
 * The Castle of Good Hope is still standing today in Capetown, South Africa. It was actually turned into a museum to be viewed in a more unique way by tourists. The museum is now called the Castle Military Museum. You can also visit the prison cells in the castle that held some of the prisoners during the Second Boer War. The Castle of Good Hope held a ton of purpose for the South Africans. As the Castle still continues to stand today we can think of all the great things it brought to the South Africans! **