- Address: Eastern Cape, Port Elizabeth Central, South Africa
- Entrance fee: free of charge;
- Time of visit: 24 hours
The main military landmark of Port Elizabeth is Fort Frederick.
Without a single shot
The fortification was built on the hill by the British in 1799 to protect the lands of the British Empire against possible encroachments by the Napoleonic army. The name of the attraction is associated with the name of the commander-in-chief of the army of the English - the Duke of York Frederick, of whose courage the legends were composed. Fort Frederick became the first settlement of the British in South Africa, its presence contributed to the founding of the city.
Over the years of its existence, the fortification has gone under the power of the Dutch, however, it was done without a single shot. Despite world wars and attempts to establish domination in these places by the French and Dutch, Fort never stormed, did not take a single battle. At the end of the XIX century, Fort Frederick was officially excluded from the list of military facilities in South Africa . Despite this, it looks quite intimidating: military guns installed along the perimeter keep the district on target.
It's interesting to know
Today Fort Frederik is considered one of the objects of the national heritage of South Africa and is under the protection of the republican authorities.
This fact is not an obstacle, anyone can visit the attraction. Tourists are allowed to enter the building, take pictures of the objects they like, Fort itself. It should be noted that only some of the fragments of the building remain intact, among them the officer's barracks.
From the hill on which Fort Frederick is located, magnificent views of the Indian Ocean and Port Elizabeth are opened.
Helpful information
Fort Frederik is open for visits daily and meets tourists around the clock, which is undoubtedly a big plus. Another bonus is a free visit to the fortification.
You can get to the landmark on the city train - S-bahn, next to the Port Elizabeth station. After boarding you will be offered a walk, which will take no more than five minutes. In addition, at your service are taxis and cars that can be rented for a modest fee.
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