Castle of Good Hope, Colonial star fort in Cape Town, South Africa.
This fortification is a star-shaped structure in Cape Town, South Africa, with five corner bastions connected by thick limestone walls. The design encloses a large inner courtyard containing buildings for administration, living quarters and storage.
The Dutch East India Company began construction in 1666 to secure the trade route and create a base for ships travelling to Asia. Works continued until 1679, with the walls built from stones quarried near Table Mountain.
The name reflects the Dutch tradition of naming important installations with positive terms, referring to the successful founding of the settlement at the Cape. Visitors today see in the walls and rooms how the military organisation functioned, with armouries, offices and living quarters that show the life of soldiers and officials.
Access is through the main gate on Darling Street, where a visitor centre provides information. Guided tours run regularly and cover different areas of the complex, with some rooms reached by stairs.
The central courtyard carries the name Kat, a platform that traditionally served as an execution site and is now used as an event venue. The eastern bastion contains a restored chamber where early governors of the colony worked and lived.
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