Jan van Riebeeck landed at the Cape in 1652 and established a rudimentary fort until it was replaced with the more permanent castle we see today. This castle was started in 1665 and took 24 years to build. The construction of the Castle was overseen by Isbrand Goskes and was designed in the fashion of the renowned French fortress engineer, Sebastien Vauban. The Castle was built primarily for the defense of the Cape against other European powers who were all in competition for the lucrative trade in the East. In all its long history and under command by different nations, it has never been tested in warfare. Today, it tells a more inclusive story of its influence with both its European and Khoi history. This FREE printed and downloadable guide will give you by far the best information you need on the Castle.

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