There are three buildings of which Graaff Reinet is particularly proud: The Drostdy, The Town Hall, and the Dutch Reformed Church. Just remember the town has over 200 historic buildings!
The Drostdy Hotel was designed by Louis Michel Thibault and built 1804-06. It has been a hotel since 1876 and offers 5* accommodation – it is definitely on the list for next time!
The Town Hall, The Victoria Hall, was completed in 1911. The War Memorial in front of the Town Hall remembers those who died in WWI. Close by is a memorial to the Huguenots, and in the residential streets is a memorial to those who died in the Anglo-Boer War. British troops were stationed in the town and a memorial on the R63 remembers Gideon Scheepers, whose execution is still talked about.
Perhaps the most striking sight is the Dutch Reformed Church. The first church was in Church Street; the second burned down in 1799 before completion; the third church was completed in 1800 but demolished and the fourth church built in 1823. This too was demolished and the present church completed in 1887. The church seats 1,250 people.
The congregation split over a particular Minister and his insistence on Afrikaans as opposed to English or Dutch, and built a new church in 1929!
Ordinary, everyday life goes on in the main street, around all these buildings.
But I think the real pleasure comes from wandering the streets and noticing the details on the homes, and the beautiful plants and flowers, so that is what I will do next!
You may be interested in
Monuments in Graaff Reinet
Cape Dutch Architecture
The Anglo-Boer War in Graaff Reinet
A History of Graaff Reinet
Historic public buildings in Graaff Reinet – nice blog
Lizanda
What a magical town, my aunt is the owner of a property in Te Waterstreet across from the Cape Dutch Reformed Church, I believe its one of the oldest properties in Graaff Reinet