Asia to Africa: Travelling 12 488km to South Africa's 3rd Oldest Town! EP10 скачать в хорошем качестве

Asia to Africa: Travelling 12 488km to South Africa's 3rd Oldest Town! EP10

Swellendam in South Africa's Western Cape Province is located at the foothills of the 170km long Langeberg mountain range. Established in 1743, it's the country's 3rd oldest town,. From its early days as a trading post of the Cape Colony in the 1700s, it became a center for agricultural production. Today this historic town is home to more than 50 heritage buildings, many of them in the Cape Dutch style, and each with its own story to tell. For more information on Cape Dutch buildings and one's of particular prominence, refer to the following webpage: https://www.southafrica.net/gl/en/tra... Swellendam is located 108km from Cape Agulhas, Africa's southern most point. We took the R319 from Cape Agulhas to Swellendam. This is a regional road that follows the coast east to nearby Struisbaai. The road then heads north and inland. The R319 is the first to diverge on the other side of Bredasdorp and heads north-north-east to its terminus at the N2. On our way to Swellendam we passed prominent SSK silos. These are one of 9 SSK silo complexes (with the others being located in Heidelberg, Krombeksrivier, Protem, Karringmelksrivier, Ashton, Riversdale, Albertinia, Herold and the depot at Kleinberg) that have a total fixed storage capacity of approximately 320 000 tonnes and temporary storage capacity in the form of silo bag depots of approximately 120 000 tonnes. If you're interested to learn more about the SSK silos, you can refer to this link: https://www.ssk.co.za/en/grain/storag... Swellendam's 1st Dutch Landdrost was Johannes Theophilus Rhenius. The Landdrost served as magistrate and chief administrator. He worked with a team of court officials, a secretary, jailer and several slaves. In 1827 the Drostdy's keys were handed over to the British. The British civil commissioner replaced the board of Dutch officials and from that time onwards the British commissioner and magistrate occupied the Drostdy. In 1835 the Drostdy was sold to Pieter Gysbert Steyn to reduce colonial debt. The Steyns ran the Drostdy until 1939 and it was sold to the government of the Union of South Africa. Since then, the Drostdy became a museum. The Drostdy Museum is home to a vast collection of artifacts and exhibits that showcase the history of Swellendam and its people. From the town’s early days as a bustling center of commerce and industry to its more recent history, the museum provides a comprehensive look at Swellendam’s rich heritage. One of the highlights of the museum is the collection of artifacts and memorabilia from the town’s colonial era. Visitors can see firsthand the tools and everyday objects that were used by the settlers who first established Swellendam as a thriving community. The museum also features exhibits on the town’s important role in the military history of the Western Cape, including its role as a key military base during the Anglo-Boer War. With a comprehensive collection of artifacts, exhibits, and displays, visitors will leave with a deeper understanding of this fascinating town and its history. Refer to this link for more information about the museum: https://www.drostdymuseum.co.za/ Swellendam is centred around an iconic Dutch Reformed Church that you can for free. The church is one of the most photographed buildings in SA and well worth a visit if you pass through Swellendam. The existing church was built in 1911, after the original of 1798 had become too small to accommodate the congregation. The architects, a Dutch father and son team, incorporated a Cape Revival style to create a unique and awe-inspiring building. Bits of baroque, gothic and Cape Dutch styles were fused into the design. Much of the wood from the old church was re-used, as was the decorated gates and the archway at the front entrance. It’s believed that the tower was modelled on the Mons city bell tower in Belgium. In 2008, attempts to remove the tower resulted in it being dropped from height and badly damaged. The tower has since been restored. In the church grounds are several family tombs and graves, at one stage the number of graves amounted to roughly 900. Afrikaners refer to the Swellendam Church as the Moeder Kerk or Mother Church and the townspeople attend sermons every Sunday and donate generously to ensure the church is efficiently run. More information on the church can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moederk... Our accommodation in Swellendam was at the Wildebraam Berry Estate, a peaceful self-catering guest house on a beautiful farm. Wildebraam Berry Estate offers several lovely farm units on a youngberry farm. Located in the Hermitage Valley, each unit enjoys stunning views of the Langeberg Mountains, offering guests a tranquil country atmosphere. All guest units have fully equipped kitchens and provide towels, soap and shampoo. You can find more details of Wildebraam at the following link: https://wildebraam.co.za/