The Ghosts of the Castle of Good Hope
South Africa's oldest building, a star-shaped fort in Cape Town, is said to be haunted by a figure on the walls and a bell that rings itself.
What was reported
The Castle of Good Hope, a five-pointed star fort built by the Dutch East India Company between 1666 and 1679, is the oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa. It has served as a fortress, a seat of government and a prison.
Ghost stories include a tall figure seen leaning over the walls between two bastions, a black dog that appears and vanishes, and a bell in the tower said to ring by itself.
Explanations offered
The legends are part of the castle's popular history, told on tours. Its real past includes the hard history of colonial rule, which visitors are also reminded of today. There's no evidence for the ghosts beyond stories.
- When
- Built 1666–1679
- Where
- Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
- Witnesses
- Soldiers, guides and visitors
- Status
- Legend
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.