The Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town

Jan van Riebeek led the first European settlement in the Cape, and his instructions were to build a permanent settlement when he arrived in 1652. His first fort laid the foundations of the city of Cape Town , and the Castle soon replaced this fort on the same site. Built between 1666 and 1679, the Castle is in the shape of a pentagon, each side at 175 metres in length, and with walls standing at over 10 metres high. The Castle open day is a great opportunity to revel in the fascinating history of Cape Town, with entertainment including tours of the castle, a tempting variety of cuisine, musical performances and children's activities. The Castle is open to the public year-round.