An early 19th-century H-shaped floor plan, a former parsonage and exhibitions on the town’s history and military history give Graaff-Reinet a range of cultural points of interest. Most of Graaff-Reinet’s attractions can be reached on foot. If you would like to include several themes in your stay, walking routes can be part of your sightseeing; you can plan your choices around your interests.
Architecture and historic houses
The Old Residency is a well-preserved example of a Cape Dutch house with an H-shaped floor plan from the early 19th century. This describes two aspects of the building: its architectural style and its floor plan. The Old Residency also houses the Jan Felix Lategan Collection of Historical Firearms. The building’s history and a collection of historic firearms are presented here as distinct topics.
Reinet House offers a different historical focus. The building was constructed in 1812, during Reverend Kicherer’s tenure, as a parsonage for the Dutch Reformed Church, at government expense. In contrast to the Old Residency, the former function of the house and its specific year of construction take centre stage here. The two houses therefore offer different ways to explore Graaff-Reinet’s buildings and their history.
Collections and exhibitions at the Old Library
Over the years, the Old Library developed into Graaff-Reinet’s cultural centre. It houses the Lex Bremner Fossil Collection and the Townley Johnson Rock Art and Stone Age Collection. Fossils, rock art and the Stone Age offer different thematic perspectives from those of the historic houses’ architecture. The Old Library is also home to the Mangaliso Robert Sobukwe Permanent Exhibition.
Other exhibitions focus on the history of slavery and restitution, the history of the Fiduciary Institute of Southern Africa (FISA), and energy issues: Karoo Transvisions in Energy: From Mythology to Renewables. The Frederick Emmanuel Hufkie Exhibition is also on display. The themes range from collections on fossils and early history to social, institutional and energy-related exhibition topics.
The history of the Old Library itself is also part of the town’s history: in 2005, the building was expanded to include exhibition spaces intended to present the history of Graaff-Reinet’s previously disadvantaged community. This expansion gave the topic its own place alongside the library’s other collections and exhibitions.
Military history and a walk nearby
The Military History Museum offers an overview of Graaff-Reinet’s military history from the 19th century to 30 June 2007. An account of the Graaff-Reinet Commando in the First World War adds a specifically named topic to this historical overview. Military history is thus a distinct focus alongside the architecture and the Old Library’s various themes.
For planning a culture-focused visit, it helps to know that most of Graaff-Reinet’s attractions can be reached on foot. You can prioritise the different themes according to your interests: historic houses, collections and exhibitions, or military history. Nearby, the Crag Lizard Trail also passes the Valley viewpoints. The walk is about 1.5 km long and takes around 45 minutes; it offers a different focus from the town’s cultural attractions.
Discover more destinations: Addo, Humansdorp, Paterson, Willowmore, Weston, Cape Saint Francis, Kirkwood, Sanddrif.
For the wider travel overview: Western District.
