The Castle of Good Hope is a fortification in the centre of Cape Town, South Africa. It is located at 33°55′33″S, 18°25′37″E. Nakhal Fort, one of the best-preserved forts in Oman. ... City motto: Spes Bona (Latin: Good Hope) Province Western Cape Mayor Nomaindia Mfeketo Area  - % water 1,644 km² 0. ...

Built by the VOC between 1666 and 1679, the Castle is the oldest building in South Africa. It replaced an older fort made out of clay and timber that was built in 1652 by Jan van Riebeeck upon his arrival at the Cape of Good Hope. The purpose of both were to act as replenishment station for ships passing the treacherous coast around the Cape on long voyages between the Netherlands and the Dutch East Indies. Dutch colonial possessions, with the Dutch East India Company possessions marked in a paler green, surrounding the Indian Ocean plus Saint Helena in the mid-Atlantic. ... Events September 2 - Great Fire of London: A large fire breaks out in London in the house of Charles IIs baker on Pudding Lane near London Bridge. ... Events January 24 - King Charles II of England disbands Parliament August 7 - The brigantine Le Griffon, which was commissioned by René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, is towed to the southern end of the Niagara River, to become the first ship to sail the upper Great Lakes. ... Fortifications (Latin fortis, strong, and facere, to make) are military constructions designed for defensive warfare. ... Quaternary clay in Estonia. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Lumber. ... // Events April 6 - Dutch sailor Jan van Riebeeck establishes a resupply camp for the Dutch East India Company at the Cape of Good Hope, and founded Cape Town. ... Johan Anthoniszoon Jan van Riebeeck (21 April 1619–18 January 1677), was a Dutch colonial administrator. ... The Cape of Good Hope; looking towards the west, from the coastal cliffs above Cape Point. ... The Dutch East Indies, or Netherlands East Indies, (Dutch: Nederlands-Indië) was the name of the colonies set up by the Dutch East India Company, which came under administration of the Netherlands during the 19th century (see Indonesia). ...

During 1664, tensions between Britain and the Netherlands rose with rumours of war being imminent — that same year, Commander Zacharius Wagenaer was instructed to build a pentagonal castle out of stone. On 26 April 1679, the five bastions were named after the main titles of William III of Orange-Nassau: Leerdam to the west, with respectively Buuren, Katzenellenbogen, Nassau and Oranje clockwise from it. Events March 12 - New Jersey becomes a colony of England. ... Stone can refer to any of the following: Stone may be used as a building material, as in this dry stone wall Look up stone in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... April 26 is the 116th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (117th in leap years). ... Events January 24 - King Charles II of England disbands Parliament August 7 - The brigantine Le Griffon, which was commissioned by René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, is towed to the southern end of the Niagara River, to become the first ship to sail the upper Great Lakes. ... William III King of England, Scotland and Ireland William III and II (14 November 1650–8 March 1702; also known as William Henry and William of Orange) was Prince of Orange from his birth, King of England and Ireland from 13 February 1689, and King of Scotland from 11 April... Leerdam (population: 21,050 in 2004) is a town in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. ... Katzenelnbogen is the name of a medieval German county in todays state of Hesse as well as, today, of a castle and small city in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. ... Nassau may mean the following: Place names: The capital of the Bahamas; see Nassau, Bahamas A duchy in the medieval Holy Roman Empire; see Nassau (state) The Prussian province of Hesse-Nassau formed by annexation of that duchy A town in Rhineland-Palatinate; see Nassau, Germany Baarle-Nassau; is a... Oranjecan mean: A nickname for the Netherlands national football team A village in Drenthe, Netherlands: Oranje (Drenthe) The Orange river in South-Africa in Dutch and Afrikaans This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

In 1682, the gated entry replaced the old entrance towards the sea. A bell tower, situated over the main entrance, was built in 1684 — the original bell, the oldest in South Africa, was cast in Amsterdam in 1697 by Claude Frémy and weights just over 300 kilograms. It was used to announce time, as well as warning citizens in case of danger, since it could be heard 10 kilometers away. It was also run to summon residents and soldiers when important announcements needed to be made. Events March 11 – Chelsea hospital for soldiers is founded in England May 6 - Louis XIV of France moves his court to Versailles. ... Events France under Louis XIV makes Truce of Ratisbon separately with the Empire and Spain. ... Amsterdam Location Flag Country The Netherlands Province North Holland Population 742,951(1 January 2005) Coordinates 52°22′N 4°54′E Website www. ... Events September 20 - The Treaty of Ryswick December 2 – St Pauls Cathedral opened in London Peter the Great travels in Europe officially incognito as artilleryman Pjotr Mikhailov Use of palanquins increases in Europe Christopher Polhem starts Swedens first technical school. ... The international prototype, made of platinum-iridium, which is kept at the BIPM under conditions specified by the 1st CGPM in 1889. ...

Inside, the Castle housed a church, bakery, various workshops, living quarters, shops and cells, among others. The yellow paint on the walls were chosen because it lessened the effect of heat and the scorching sun. A wall divides the inside, built in order to protect citizens in case of an attack, also houses the well-known Katbalkon: The original was built in 1695, but rebuilt to its current form between 1786 and 1790. From the balcony, announcements were made to soldiers, slaves and burghers of the Cape. The balcony led to the famous William Fehr collection of paintings and antique furniture. A church building (or simply church) is a building used in Christian worship. ... Bakery foods A baker is someone who bakes and sells bread, cakes and similar foods. ... A workshop is a room or building which provides both the area and tools (or machinery) that may be required for the manufacture or repair of goods. ... Look up shop in Wiktionary, the free dictionary A shop is an enclosed location where a specific activity is carried out. ... A cell is a single unit or compartment, enclosed by a border or wall. ... Events January 27 - Change of emperor of the Ottoman Empire from Ahmed II to Mustafa II (1695-1703) July 17 - The Bank of Scotland is founded by an Act of Parliament of the old Scottish Parliament. ... 1786 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1790 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

In 1936, the Castle was declared a national monument. Due to extensive restorations done during the 1980s, the Castle is the best preserved fort of its kind built by the VOC. 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The 1980s decade refers to the years from 1980 to 1989, inclusive. ...

The Castle acted as local headquarters for the South African Army in the Western Cape, but today houses the Castle Military Museum and ceremonial facilities for the traditional Cape Regiments. The South African Army is the army of South Africa, also known in Afrikaans as the Suid-Afrikaanse Leër. ... The Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. ...

External link

• Official website