District Six, Former residential district in Cape Town, South Africa
District Six is a former residential area in Cape Town near Table Mountain that remains largely undeveloped today, marked by a few restored structures and memorial stones. The site spans several city blocks where empty plots sit alongside renovated buildings and small gardens.
The neighborhood emerged in 1867 and housed a layered population of workers, craftspeople, and traders of different backgrounds for decades. During the 1960s the government of the time ordered demolition and forced residents to relocate to distant suburbs.
The museum displays personal belongings and clothing of former residents in glass cases, while handwritten memories about daily life in mixed neighborhoods hang on the walls. Visitors can stand on a large floor cloth where former residents have marked the location of their homes and shops.
Guided walks take place several days a week and typically last one to two hours, following a route over public footpaths. Sturdy footwear is advisable because some sections cross uneven ground.
Beneath the surface lie foundations of the original buildings along with personal items left behind during the hasty departure from homes. Construction workers occasionally uncover fragments of crockery or household objects when digging.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
