Table Mountain
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Oct 31, 2023 · 14 Best Things To Do in Cape Town. Updated October 31, 2023. The real question here is what can't you do in Cape Town. This is a city brimming with adventure, culture, and culinary arts....
Cape Town [a] is the legislative capital of South Africa. It is the country's oldest city and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. [11] It is the country's second-largest city, after Johannesburg, and the largest in the Western Cape. [12] The city is part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality .
- 2,461 km² (950 sq mi)
- South Africa
- 1652
- City of Cape Town
Discover Cape Town, a beautiful city with diverse cultures, cuisines and landscapes. Explore attractions, activities, events and tips from Lonely Planet experts.
Discover Cape Town, a modern, cosmopolitan city surrounded by nature and beauty. Find your freedom in the city of Table Mountain, stunning beaches, award-winning food and wine, and diverse experiences.
- Overview
- The character of the city
Cape Town, city and seaport, legislative capital of South Africa and capital of Western Cape province. The city lies at the northern end of the Cape Peninsula some 30 miles (50 kilometres), at its southernmost boundary, north of the Cape of Good Hope. Because it was the site of the first European settlement in South Africa, Cape Town is known as the country’s “mother city.”
Cape Town has a beautiful setting: parts of the city and its suburbs wind about the steep slopes of Table Mountain (3,563 feet [1,086 metres] high) and neighbouring peaks and rim the shores of Table Bay; other parts lie on the flats below the slopes or stretch southward across the flats to False Bay. The city covers an area of 116 square miles (300 square kilometres). Pop. (2005 est.) urban agglom., 3,103,000.
The city of Cape Town had its origin in 1652, when the Dutch East India Company established a refreshment station for its ships on the shores of Table Bay. The location was magnificent, on well-watered, fertile soil, beneath the precipitous walls of Table Mountain. The indigenous inhabitants provided cattle but not labour, and the company imported slaves, mainly from East Africa, Madagascar, and the Bay of Bengal area. The slaves brought with them something of their culture and—especially in the case of the Muslims from the East Indies—their religion. Mixed-race unions took place, but strong racial and ethnic characteristics remained. In 1781 the French established a garrison to help the Dutch defend the city against British attack, and the French presence influenced local architecture and culture. British occupation in the 19th century brought new parliamentary and judicial concepts and freedom for the slaves. Cape Town was the gateway to Europe’s penetration of the South African interior, and close ties with continental Europe were maintained.
Today Cape Town is a modern city with high-rise office buildings and pedestrian malls. Although it is a major political and economic centre, its reputation still rests on its beautiful situation between mountain and sea, its cosmopolitan population, and the liberal outlook of many of its citizens.
Britannica Quiz
World Cities
- Eric Axelson
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The 40 Best Things To Do in Cape Town. By Inside Guide. Iconic sites and landscapes, from every perspective. Cape Town draws the crowds not only for its beauty, but also for its heritage and cultural diversity. There is a rich bounty of things to do to suit every kind of adventurer.
The City of Cape Town (Afrikaans: Stad Kaapstad; Xhosa: IsiXeko saseKapa) is a metropolitan municipality that forms the local government of Cape Town and surrounding areas. As of the 2016 community survey, it had a population of 4,005,016.
