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Feature l Places
in the Free State
Mouse-over Map
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Free State Tourism Department's mission
with this site is to promote travel and tourism in the
Free State. If you have any comments or know of further
places of interest, attractions, corrections, etc.,
please send an e-mail to Mr. Moshodi. |
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| Bloemfontein, the Capital City of the Free
State Province, has also become known locally as the 'City of
Roses'. |
| Botshabelo, a must-see for the cultural tourist,
remains a monument to apartheid planning in the Free State. |
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Bloemfontein
Botshabelo
Golden Gate
Vredefort Dome
Xhariep Dam
www.Pakisa
Freeway Welkom |
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| Bethlehem is the largest commercial, industrial
and educational centre in the eastern Free State and by tradition
the northern terminus of the ‘mountain route’.
The original settlers found that wheat flourished in the valley
and hence the town was named Bethlehem (house of bread). |
| Parys lies in the Vredefort Dome, which is an area hit by a
massive meteorite in ancient times (geologists speculate that this happened
about 250 million years ago). The resulting crater is about 42Km in diameter. |
| Sasolburg: Known in SA for the Sasol petroleum
refinery, Sasolburg and the Vaal Triangle offers visitors
and residents many leisure opportunities. Theatres, movie
houses and one of the last drive-inns provide entertainment
for all |
| Heilbron: The very popular Heilbron Dam
offers watersports, such as swimming, boating and fishing. |
| Vrede is an Afrikaans word that means 'peace' and that's exactly
what you'll find in this little town. Watch out for the beautiful old
sandstone church. |
| Bothaville is in the Maize Traingle, thus
surrounded by vast maizelands. Other agricultural activities
are sheep, sunflower, wheat and ground-nuts. |
| Kroonstad is named after a horse called
Kroon (which means 'crown'), owned by Adriaan de la Rey. The
horse had an accident in a nearby stream which was named Kroonspruit
('spruit' means 'stream'). |
| Bloemhof: This town on the Vaal River was
also given a quick boost due to Diamond Fewer in the late
1800's. Today, cattle ranching and maize crops are the main
economic activities. |
| Welkom: In this expansive mining town you'll
find the Phakisa Freeway, one of the top 5 motor racing circuits
on earth. |
| Golden Gate: Nestled in the rolling foothills
of the Maluti Mountains of the north-eastern Free State lies
the famous Golden Gate Highlands National Park. |
| Christiana - gripped by diamond fever in
the 1870s - is a popular stopover between the Reef and Cape
Town. Offerings include hot mineral springs, a well-stocked
game reserve and excellent angling opportunities. A point
of interest at Stows Kopje (hill) nearby, are the prehistoric
rock engravings which were declared a national monument. |
| Harrismith, with its wide thoroughfares
lined with Victorian, sandstone buildings, is among the best
places in the eastern state to stock up on provision for outdoor
adventures, including steaks; the town is the capital of the
country's top red-meat producing region. |
| Sterkfontein Dam: The extended nature conservation
area around the dam of Sterkfontein is characterised by rugged
mountains, endless expanse and a lot of water. Besides long
walks and hikes, it offers watersport and fishing facilities
in the dam. |
| Clarens: Sitting on a hilltop several kilometers
west of Golden Gate and surrounded by superb mountain vistas,
Clarens is filled with art galleries, luxurious guest houses,
and inventive restaurants. |
| Ficksburg: The annual Ficksburg Cherry Festival
runs every year in November and provides fun for the
whole family. The Kids can delight in home-made cherry ice-cream
while the adults savour the famous cherry mampoer. |
| Xhariep Dam is an ideal inland holiday
destination as well as a perfect stop-over for tourists travelling
between Gauteng and Cape Town. |
| Kimberley forms a western gateway into
the Free State. It is an old mining town and you'll find the
biggest man-made hole in the world here. |
| Smithfield is where two important tourist
routes, the N6 and R701, cross. It is also where the patriotic
will of Basoeto, Free State settler and British often crossed
in the past. |
| Ladybrand is a beautiful little historical
town which forms the northern starting point of the spectacular
Maloti Route. |
| This town offers many historical sites depicting the violent period prior to its formation, as well as nature reserves and resorts and various water-activities on the Dams in the area. |
| Thaba ‘Nchu is home to two luxury
hotels and casino’s and the Maria Moroka Nature Reserve
which surrounds Thaba ‘Nchu Sun and Setlogelo Dam. |
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