Castle of Good Hope - About the Attraction
The Castle of Good Hope is one of South Africa’s oldest historical landmarks and is also viewed as a bastion of South Africa’s colonial past. Now, it welcomes visitors both local and international, who want to learn more about the history and heritage of the Cape.
“The Castle” as it is locally known, was originally located on the coastline of Table Bay but, following reclamation, the fort is now located a short distance inland within the city’s Central Business District. This heritage site is considered the best preserved example of a 17th century architectural structure in the world. The Castle is known for its five bastions – Leerdam to the west, with Buuren, Katzenellenbogen, Nassau, and Oranje clockwise from it.
It housed a church, bakery, various workshops, living quarters, shops, and prison cells, among other facilities. It is believed that the yellow paint on the walls was originally chosen because it lessened the effect of heat and the sun. A wall, built to protect citizens in case of an attack, divides the inner courtyard, which also houses the De Kat Balcony – now with the “Kings of the Castle” statues in front of it. It is from this balcony that announcements were made to soldiers, slaves and burghers (town inhabitants) of the Cape.
Some activities to add to your list when visiting include a guided tour, take a closer look at the architecture, visit the military museum, view the William Fehr Collection as well as the African Pottery Collection.
Don’t miss the traditional Key Ceremony, the unlocking of the van der Stel entrance by the ceremonial guards, or the Firing of the Signal Canon which is performed by the South African National Defence Force and used to be sign of ships sighted at sea.
The Castle also acted as the local headquarters for the South African Army in the Western Cape, and still houses the Castle Military Museum and ceremonial facilities for the traditional Cape Regiments.
Key Attractions the Castle of Good Hope
Things to Do in Castle of Good Hope
Athlone in Cape Town is a cultural hub made up of a number of vibrant arts, culture, and memorial areas that form a centre for culturally diversity.
Places to Stay in Castle of Good Hope
If you’re looking for a place to stay in this region, there are several excellent options to choose from.
Places to Eat & Drink in Castle of Good Hope
With its rich cultural diversity, Athlone offers a wide selection of dining options.
Travel Inspiration
Looking for some travel inspiration for your next trip to Athlone? Here are some ideas to get you started:
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You know what time it is!😍
Have a blessed Easter weekend ✨
Kitchens across the city are filled with the aromas of this lekker local favourite. Got your pickled fish ready?
#heritagefood #capetownculture #capetownsouthafrica🇿🇦 #easter2025
The final day of our #CPTEasterTreasureHunt brought ALL the energy!💃
Congratulations to our winners, who were the first to find our secret locations:
📍RLabs, Mitchell’s Plain: Tamlynne Thompson
📍HintHunt, V&A Waterfront: Cleopatra and Arsene
A massive thank you to today’s sponsors:
Radisson Red: An overnight stay for two including breakfast
The Diamond Works: A jewellery piece
Blaauwberg Beach Hotel: Dinner voucher for 2 at Waves Restaurant
Keep an eye on our page to see who the winner of our Ultimate Cape Town Prize is!😉
#CPTEasterTreasureHunt
#LoveCapeTown
The #CPTEasterTreasureHunt was buzzing today! 💃
A massive shoutout to our winners, who were the first to find our secret locations:
📍Blaauwberg Beach Hotel, Bloubergstrand: Casey Havenga
📍Guga S’thebe, Langa: Gideon Sijila and Beatrice Ralefatane
A special thanks to today’s sponsors:
Marine Dynamics: Marine Big 5 tour for four people
Lagoon Beach Hotel: One-night stay for two adults in a Classic Room, including breakfast
Blaauwberg Beach Hotel: Dinner voucher for Waves Restaurant
Tomorrow is your final chance to join the adventure. Two last clues drop at 9am and 1pm. Crack the clues, race to the hidden location, and meet the Love Cape Town team. 🔎
The winner of our Ultimate Cape Town Experience grand prize, packed with some of the city’s top experiences, will be revealed at our final activation at 1pm. 😁
#CPTEasterTreasureHunt
#LoveCapeTown
The #CPTEasterTreasureHunt is in full swing! 🐣
If you solved today’s clue, you’d know that the secret spots were Willowbridge Shopping Centre in Tyger Valley and Southey’s Vines in Somerset West. 🤩
A huge congratulations to today’s winners, who were the first to make it to the locations:
📍Willowbridge Shopping Centre: Sonia Rietmuller
📍Southey’s Vines: Sizwo Phuthumani and Jaiden Mentoor
A special thanks to today’s sponsors:
Krystal Beach Hotel: 2 night stay for 2 people
Stellenbosch Wine Tractor: Hop on hop off wine tasting tour for 4
Missed today’s excitement? Don’t worry, the hunt continues until 17 April 2024. 🤩
Two fresh clues drop daily at 9am and 1pm on our Love Cape Town Instagram and Facebook stories.
Plus, everyone who enters at the locations can stand a chance to win The Ultimate Cape Town Experience of a curated treasure chest of the city’s finest adventures. The draw takes place on Thursday, 17 April, at our final mystery location. 🔍
#CPTEasterTreasureHunt
#lovecapetown
What a start to our #CPTEasterTreasureHunt! 🐇
A huge congratulations to today’s clue-solving champions:
📍 Simon’s Town: The Schmidlin family
📍 Hout Bay: Jill Wichman
A massive shoutout to our incredible sponsors:
@montecoprivategamereserve: Full-day safari experience for five
@afrogem_rsa: A shopping voucher
Missed today’s excitement? Don’t worry, the hunt continues until 17 April 2024. 🤩
Two fresh clues drop daily at 9am and 1pm. Decode the hint, race to the secret spot, and track down the Love Cape Town team. Be the first to arrive and claim your prize. 🏆
Plus, everyone can stand a chance to win The Ultimate Cape Town Experience of a curated treasure chest of the city’s finest adventures. The draw takes place on Thursday, 17 April, at our final mystery location. 🔍
#CPTEasterTreasureHunt
#LoveCapeTown
The first clues drop tomorrow at 9am! 🔍
Grab your crew and get ready to explore. 😎
8 neighbourhoods. 4 days. 1 grand prize! 🏆 🐇
The Cape Town Easter Treasure Hunt
14-17 April 2025
Follow us on our Instagram and Facebook social pages for daily updates.😁
#CPTEasterTreasureHunt
#LoveCapeTown
8 Neighbourhoods. 4 Days. 1 Grand Prize!🏆 🐇
14-17 April 2025
Follow us on our Love Cape Town Instagram and Facebook social pages for updates.😁
#CPTEasterTreasureHunt #lovecapetown
Something exciting is coming to Cape Town. 🐇
Follow us on our Instagram and Facebook social pages for updates.😁
#CPTEasterTreasureHunt #LoveCapeTown
Come with us to Observatory 🔭📚🧪
Here’s part 1 of our cool things to do in Observatory series:
📍 Cape Town Science Centre
📍 OBZ Books
📍 Revolution Records
📍 Total Ninja
📍 Theatre Arts
📍 South African Astronomical Observatory
Got any favourite places you love visiting in this area? Drop them in the comments section...
The only thing better than the view? Sharing it with your bestie. 🚗
Tag your Chappies road trip buddy in the comments section...
📹: @airplaneandie
Cape Town’s hotels are doing more than offering incredible amenities, they’re making moves for the planet! 🌍
From harnessing solar power and cutting down on single-use plastics to sourcing local, sustainable products, these stays are leading the way in eco-friendly travel.☀️🧴
Many have even earned the prestigious Green Key certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), one of the world’s largest Education for Sustainable Development organisations. The Green Key certification is the leading standard for excellence in environmental responsibility and sustainable operation in the tourism industry. 🏆
Here are some hotels making a difference…
#capetown #sustainability #greenhotels
It’s competition time! 🤩
Stand a chance to win one of two vouchers to visit @robben_island. Each voucher is valid for four guests.
The lucky winner and three other guests will enjoy a return boat trip to Robben Island and, once ashore, hop aboard a guided bus tour around the island before stepping inside the maximum-security prison for an insightful tour led by a former political prisoner🚶🏾🚶♀️🚶🏽♂️🚎⛴️
Robben Island-where former South African president Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison-is a must-visit attraction when exploring Cape Town. The island is steeped in history and offers some of the most iconic views of Table Mountain.⛰️
To enter, follow @lovecapetown and @robben_island, then complete and submit the online entry form in the link in bio. Entries close at 12pm on Monday, 25 April 2025. The winner will be announced later that day.
#capetown #robbenisland #competition
