Eastern Cape Provincial Article - South African Vacations

Anglo-Boer War Monument: The monument is dedicated to those who fought
in this tragic war.
Clock Tower: The clock tower of the College of Education was made in
Liverpool so that it could produce Westminster chimes. The building is
constructed in the late Victorian/early Edwardian style.
Dutch Reformed Church: The 1886 Dutch Reformed Church with its neo-
Gothic lines strongly resembles England’s Salisbury Cathedral. The vault of
the church houses a priceless collection of Cape Dutch silver.
Graaff-Reinet Pharmacy: The Graaff-Reinet Pharmacy is a prime example of
a Victorian pharmacy. The old-world atmosphere is enhanced by the
beautifully preserved original interior and exterior fittings.
Huguenot Monument: Possibly the best-known monument in Graaff-Reinet, it
commemorates the arrival of the French Huguenots in South Africa in 1688.
Karoo architecture: The streets of Graaff-Reinet are lined with excellent
examples of Karoo architecture. Some of the original coach houses built by
Graaff-Reinet’s first wealthy inhabitants are an integral part of this heritage.
Old Library Museum: The museum houses the Rykie Pretorius costume
collection, R Townley Johnson’s reproductions of San artwork, the Rembrandt
Van Rijn Art Foundation Exhibit, the William Roe photographic collection and
the Lex Bremner fossil collection. It also possesses a unique collection of
fossilised Karoo reptiles, the only remains of the 200 million-year-old
inhabitants of the area. The life of Robert Sobukwe (1924 to 1978), founder of
the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) is chronicled in one of the galleries.
Reinet House: One of the country’s best examples of an H-shaped, six-gabled
Cape Dutch building is Reinet House, where the Reverend Andrew Murray
once lived. The building was completed in 1812 and fully restored in 1947 to
serve as a cultural history museum. The interior includes a superb collection
of yellowwood and stinkwood furniture. The largest black acorn vine in the
world, planted in 1870 and covering over 120 square metres, grows in the
garden.
The Drostdy: The building was designed by Louis Thibault and completed in
1806. It used to be the home of the landdrost (magistrate) and is a hotel
today.
Town Hall: Graaff-Reinet’s Town hall was constructed in the Victorian style to
commemorate Queen Victoria’s reign.
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