Page 134 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

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6 Lutheran Church
99 Strand St. Map 5 B1. Tel 021 421
5854. Open 10am–2pm Mon–Fri and
for Sun services.
∑ lutheranchurch.org.za
Since the ruling authority
was intolerant of any religion
other than that of the Dutch
Reformed Church, the Lutheran
Church began its life as a
hall that had to be officially
described as a “warehouse”.
Wealthy Lutheran businessman
Martin Melck built it with the The dining room in Iziko Koopmans-De Wet House
intention of modifying it into
a place of worship once the 7 Iziko Koopmans- own the house. After the death
religious laws were relaxed, and De Wet House of her husband in 1880, Maria De
the first service was held there Wet lived here with her sister
in 1776. A few years later, the 35 Strand St. Map 5 B1. Tel 021 481- until her death in 1906.
sexton’s house was added. 3935. Open 10am–5pm Mon–Fri. Over the years, the sisters
From 1787 to 1792, the Closed 1 May, 25 Dec. & assembled the fine antiques that
∑ iziko.org.za
German-born sculptor Anton can still be seen in the museum
Anreith embellished the church, today. Maria De Wet, apart from
designing a more fitting front This Neo-Classical home was built being a renowned society host-
elevation and adding a tower. in 1701 when Strand Street, then ess, was also responsible for taking
Today, both the church and the close to the shore, was the most the first steps to protect Cape
sexton’s house are national fashionable part of Cape Town. Town’s historic buildings. It was
monu ments. The building was enlarged in due to her intervention that the
Next door to the church is subsequent centuries; a second destruc tion of part of the castle
the Martin Melck House, which storey was added, and renowned was prevented when the new
was built in 1781 and declared French architect Louis Michel rail way lines were being planned.
a national monument in 1936. Thibault remodelled the façade
It is a fine example of an around 1795 in Louis XVI-style.
18th-century Cape townhouse. The De Wet family was the last to 8 Iziko Bo-Kaap
Museum
71 Wale St. Map 5 A1. Tel 021 481
3938. Open 10am–5pm Mon–Sat.
Closed Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, Good
Fri, 25 Dec, 2 Jan. & ∑ iziko.org.za
The Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum is
housed in the oldest house in
the area (1763) still in its original
form. The characteristic features
are a voorstoep (front terrace) and
a courtyard, both emphasizing
the social aspect of Cape Muslim
culture. The museum focuses on
the history of Islam in the Cape of
Good Hope, highlighting its local
cultural expressions.
The Bo-Kaap area has
traditionally been associated
with the Muslim community
of South Africa, and the Auwal
Mosque, the oldest mosque in
the country, is located on Dorp
Street, just behind the museum.
9 Table Mountain
The Lutheran Church on Strand Street See pp136–7.
For hotels and restaurants in this area see p384 and pp398–9

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