Graaff-Reinet : Monuments

Graaff-Reinet has a lot of monuments.  We tried to visit most of them.  I wrote about the Gideon Scheepers Monument and the War Memorial in previous posts.  We also visited the following monuments.  (I added the addresses at the end of the post because we had trouble finding some of them)

Anglo Boer War Monument
This monument is in a residential area and looks like it is in the backyard of a house. From the tourist office map the exact location is not clear and we had some trouble to find it. 

The marble monument was erected in the memory of the fallen in the war for freedom, The Anglo Boer War, of 1899 to 1902. On the sides are bible scriptures in Dutch and the names those who were executed in Graaff-Reinet. It is a beautiful and moving monument but sadly the rifle was vandalized.

Huguenot Monument
This is a small monument erected behind the Town Hall in memory of the French Huguenot’s that came to South Africa in 1688. It is a small pyramid displaying the surnames of the Huguenot’s that came.  It was nice to see Husband’s surname on the list as his family came to South Africa as French Huguenots.

Union Monument
This monument was also quite hard to find. It is on the top of Magazine Hill but the maps are not clear and a lot of one-way streets make it even more difficult. It looks if the area around the monument is being upgraded. We spend more time to find the monument than looking at it.

The monument is a big stone pyramid and commemorates the union of the four provinces of South Africa in 1910. Each side of the pyramid displays a name of a province: Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal and Natal.

Andries Pretorius monument
The monument with the figure of Andries Pretorius and a wagon wheel was erected in 1943. He was one of the Boer leaders in the Great Trek and was the leader during battles with the Zulu’s and British forces.

This beautiful monument is about 2km outside of Graaff-Reinet. The monument is in a good condition but the area surrounding it was dirty. A some kids used the monument as a playground

Monument to the Independent Colony of Graaff-Reinet
I would not call this a monument. It is a plaque on a small wall next to a petrol station. You will walk pass it and not even realize it is a monument. But what makes it worth a visit is a small part of South African History that is almost forgotten.

The Independent Colony of Graaff-Reinet was proclaimed on 6 February 1795. They wanted to be independent of the Dutch East India authorities in Cape Town. The Colony was proclaimed. The colony only lasted until August 1796 when the British rule was accepted.
Andries Pretorius monument
Monument to the Independent Colony
of Graaff-Reinet









  




USEFUL INFORMATION:
Anglo Boer War Monument
Address:                       Corner of Somerset and Donkin Streets, Graaff-Reinet, South Africa

Hugenot Monument
Address:                       Corner of Church and Noord Street, Graaff-Reinet, South Africa
                                    (Behind the Town Hall)

Union Monument
Address:                       Auret Street, Graaff-Reinet, South Africa
Directions:                     From Caledon Street turn left into Church Street (past the Town Hall)
                                    Turn right in Auret Street and drive about 200/300m the Powder Magazine will be on the right
                                    Drive another 200/300m and keep left at the fork in the road
                                    Another 300/400m on this road to get to the Union Monument

Andries Pretorius monument
Address:                       About 2 km outside Graaff-Reinet on the N9/R61 towards Middelburg, Graaff-Reinet, South Africa

Monument to the Independent Colony of Graaff-Reinet
Address:                       Corner of Church and Parsonage Street, Graaff-Reinet, South Africa

Visiting Hours:               All of the above monuments are in public areas and can be visited any time

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