Every year on 18 April is celebrated as the International Day for Monuments and Sites as established by ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) and approved by the 22nd UNESCO General Conference in 1983.
The 2018 theme for the ICOMOS International Day for Monuments and Sites is Heritage for Generations led by the ICOMOS Emerging Professionals Working Group. and chosen in relation to the United Nations International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. Explore the Cultural Heritage sites at the Cape Town Big 6 attractions: Table Mountain Cableway, Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, Robben Island, V&A Waterfront, Cape Point, and Groot Constantia.
Groot Constantia
Groot Constantia was established in 1685 and is the oldest wine producing estate in South Africa.
In 1984, The Groot Constantia State Estate, which includes the Groot Constantia and Hoop op Constantia homesteads and all the outbuildings, was declared a National Monument by the Minister of the Department of National Education.
Explore the historical significance of Groot Constantia with their new Visitors Route Experience! One ticket gives you entrance to the Manor House museum, original Cloete Cellar, a cellar tour, wine tasting and Spiegelau Crystal wine glass.
Date: Daily | Time: 10:00 – 17:00 | Venue: Manor House | Cost: R95 per person or Visitors Route Experience Ticket + Chocolate & Wine Pairing: R140 per person.
V&A Waterfront
South Africa’s most visited destination, the V&A Waterfront, is situated at the heart of Cape Town’s working harbour. Home to 22 landmarks, its rich and varied history can be traced back to 1654 when Jan van Riebeeck built the first jetty as part of his mission to establish a refreshment station for the Dutch East India Company.
Historical monuments include Clock Tower, Robinson Dry Dock (one of the oldest of its kind in the world still in daily use), Old Power Station (Cape Town’s first power station), Pump House, Breakwater Prison and more.
Their guided historical walking tours give you the opportunity to discover the history of this landmark destination, where the cultures of the early Dutch, Flemish, and British colonists blended with those of the Malay slaves and sailors from every corner of the globe to form the cosmopolitan tapestry that makes up modern-day Cape Town. Learn more about the V & A Waterfront Guided Historical Tour.
Cape Point
Cape Point is in the Cape of Good Hope nature reserve within Table Mountain National Park, which forms part of the Cape Floral Region, a World Heritage Site.
In 1859 the first lighthouse was completed; it still stands at 238 metres above sea-level on the highest section of the peak and is now used as the centralised monitoring point for all the lighthouses on the coast of South Africa.
Discover cultural and historical spots, including monuments to explorers such as Vasco da Gama and Bartolomeu Dias. Other points of historical interest include bunkers used by the military in WWII as well as the cannon at Kanonkop.
Robben Island
Robben Island was declared as a World Heritage Site (WHS) in 1999. You can view historic and political sites when you take the Bus Tour of the island. Sites include the Blue Stone Quarry, The Ou Tronk, The Zink Tronk, Kramat, Maximum Security Prison, Leper Cemetary, Robert Sebukwe House and so much more.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, founded in 1913, was the first botanical garden in the world to be dedicated to a country’s indigenous flora. It is also the first botanical garden in the world to be included within a natural World Heritage Site. Kirstenbosch lies in the heart of the Cape Floristic Region, also known as the Cape Floral Kingdom. In 2004 the Cape Floristic Region, including Kirstenbosch, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Kirstenbosch lies in the heart of the Cape Floristic Region, also known as the Cape Floral Kingdom. In 2004 the Cape Floristic Region, including Kirstenbosch, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Table Mountain Cableway
The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway is the proud custodian of Table Mountain, a New 7 Wonder of Nature. The Cableway has provided more than 26 million visitors with a state-of-the-art and scenic cable car ride to the summit of Table Mountain for nearly 87 years.
Table Mountain is home to 1 460 different species of fynbos. This fact was noted in 2000 when the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) awarded Table Mountain Heritage Status for being a natural site that is part of the Cape Floral Kingdom.
Table Mountain is proud to be one of the official New7Wonders of Nature, and the only one to be located in an urban area, making it highly accessible. Competing against major international attractions, Table Mountain made it to the top seven after a campaign that attracted more than 100-million global votes.
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One Destination, 6 Unbelievable Experiences
There is no one way to explore all of the Cape Town Big 6, and much of what makes each of them so special is the variety of things to see and do at each. So if possible, take your time to explore each of the city’s most visited tourist attractions in as much depth as possible – as any local will tell you, you can spend a lifetime at each of the Big 6 and still not tire of them. Find the 3 and 4-day itineraries and tips here.
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