Restoration of Castle of Good Hope has begun

CAPE Town's Castle of Good Hope is hopefully about to step into a brighter chapter.

- SARENE KLOREN [e-mail]

Built between 1666 and 1679 by the Dutch East India Company, the Castle is South Africa’s oldest surviving colonial building and one of the city’s most important historical landmarks.

Once guarding the original shoreline of Table Bay, it has stood for centuries as a symbol of the Cape's layered past.

But time has not been kind.

A recent visit revealed a structure that has lost much of its lustre - peeling paint, overgrown gardens, and outdated facilities reminding visitors that even national treasures need care.

The art gallery shows signs of neglect, the restaurant has a damp, mouldy smell despite serving decent meals, and the public toilets are in urgent need of upgrading.