Near the main railway station in Cape Town Castle of Good Hope. This perfectly preserved fort built by the Dutch in January 1666, to support and defend the spice trade with the East Indies.

Until the middle of XVII century the spice trade was dominated by the Portuguese. But united with the Spanish crown in the war with the Dutch in 1580, the Portuguese Empire became an appropriate target for the Dutch. At that time, trading activity was very dangerous and risky, not only because of piracy, possible shipwreck sailors and disease, but also because of the spice trade, which could only deteriorate. The best way to manage these risks has become an association of such enterprises in the cartel.

Since its inception, the bastion has experienced many difficulties. He was constantly under threat of demolition because of the personal and material gain. But all these years, Castle of Good Hope remained the center of life on the Cape. Fort served as a food station of the Dutch East India Company, as well as protecting the logistical and financial interests in the "Spice Route". Castle of Good Hope was a welcome for the Mariners, who conducted the voyage up to 6 months, calling the Cape "Tavern of the Seas".

Fort built of blue-gray stone with small accents of yellow brick small size and is a unique example of Dutch Classicism of XVII century. Moat enclosing bastion, was previously part of the defense system of the castle, but was mutated during the restoration in 1992. At the front, you can still see the coat of arms of the United Netherlands, which depicts a crowned lion sitting on its hind legs, holding seven arrows unity.

In XX century the castle was the headquarters of the South African Army in the Western Cape. His image is applied to a five-pointed flag of South African troops, and is the basis for some of the military insignia.

Today, at the entrance to Six Flags flutter castle crowning it throughout history, ranging from the Dutch flag and ending with the modern Republic of South Africa.

In 1936, the Castle of Good Hope was declared a national monument in South Africa.