Bloemfontein - the city of roses

Afrikaans name: Bloemfontein

Bloemfontein sunset

Photo © Johan van Zyl

Free State

Bloemfontein is not only the capital of the Free State province, it is the judicial capital of South Africa and the most centrally situated city in the country. The Legislative Capital is Cape Town and the Administrative Capital is Pretoria.

The name Bloemfontein means "fountain of flowers" in Dutch and Afrikaans. The indigenous Sesotho people called it Mangaung which means "place of the cheetahs" or "place of the leopards".

In 1840 a settler named Johannes Brits started to farm on the site of modern day Bloemfontein. Major Warden bought the farm from Brits in 1846.

Bloemfontein grew around Naval Hill which is now a great place to get a view of the city. A statue of Nelson Mandela may be seen at the top. There are numerous historic buildings and monuments to be seen in Bloemfontein including the Old Presidency, Queens Fort, National Women's Monument and the Towers of Hope church.

The Free State National Botanical Gardens, which house 400 species of plants, are well worth a visit. Bloemfontein is sometimes called the City of Roses and an annual festival of roses is held in the city.

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Above - The Old Presidency, Bloemfontein.

Photo © Johan van Zyl

Above - Bloemfontein Town Hall

Photo © Johan van Zyl

Above - National Women's Monument and Die Bittereinder Monument

Photo © Johan van Zyl

Above - The Civic Centre building is also known as the "Glas Paleis" (Glass Palace)

Photo © Johan van Zyl

Above - This Dutch Reformed Church is known as the Towers of Hope

Photo © Johan van Zyl

Above - The Supreme Court building can be seen on the left bank of the canal.

Photo © Johan van Zyl

Above - View from Naval hill looking in a westerly direction

Photo © Johan van Zyl

Above - View from Naval Hill looking in a southern direction

Photo © Johan van Zyl

References and further reading

Things ewe never knewe about South African place names - Author: Ann Gadd - Published: 2015 - Page: 26

Southern Africa from the Highway - Author: AA RSA - Published: 1991 - Page: 124

The Pictorial Motoring Atlas of South Africa - Author: Maxwell Leigh - Published: 1987 - Page: 58

Road Tripping South Africa - Author: MapStudio - Published: 2014 - Page: 110

Road Tripping South Africa - Author: MapStudio - Published: 2014 - Page: 13

Road Tripping South Africa - Author: MapStudio - Published: 2014 - Page: 14

Readers Digest Illustrated Guide to Southern Africa - 4th edition - Author: - Published: 1986 - Page: 289

Places to Visit in Southern Africa - Author: AA RSA - Published: 1995 - Page: 344

On Route - Explore South Africa region by region - 3rd edition - Author: B.P.J. Erasmus - Published: 2014 - Page: 386

On Route - A region by region guide to South Africa - Author: B.P.J. Erasmus - Published: 1995 - Page: 268

go! - Issue 103 - Author: - Published: 2015 - Page: 48

Hit the Road - 2nd Edition - Author: MapStudio - Published: 2018 - Page: 203

go! - Issue 088 - Author: - Published: 2013 - Page: 43

Farm Stall to Farm Stall - Author: Jennifer Stern - Published: 2014 - Page: 104

Conollys Guide to Southern Africa - 2nd edition - Author: Denis Conolly - Published: 1982 - Page: 322

Chris and Tilde Stuarts Guide to Southern African Game and Nature Reserves - Author: Chris and Tilde Stuart - Published: 1989 - Page: 152

Caravan & Outdoor Life - Issue 653 - Author: - Published: 2016 - Page: 29

Book of the Road - 4th edition - Author: MapStudio - Published: 2019 - Page: 96

Atlas of National Parks and Reserves of South Africa - Author: Marielle Renssen - Published: 2006 - Page: 94

Bloemfontein Tourism

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