Heidelberg (jhb) (G 10)

Name: Heidelberg

Heidelberg is a town with 70,707 inhabitants in the Gauteng province of South Africa at the foot of the Suikerbosrand (Sugarbush Ridge) next to the N3 highway, which connects Johannesburg and Durban.

History:

Heidelberg is a town situated some 40 kilometres from Johannesburg.

Heidelberg began in 1862 as a trading station built by a German H.J. Ueckermann. A town was laid out around the store and named after Ueckermann's alma mater and it was established in as atown in 1865. The town was placed at the crossroads of the two wagon trails, one between Pretoria and Bloemfontein and the other between Potchefstroom and Durban. There is a Victorian manor in Heidelburg that was built in 1906 and still has the original wallpaper in most of its rooms. Of great interest to the visitor to Southern Gauteng is the Heidelburg Motor Museum housed in the old station building. The museum collection includes many vintage and veteran motor cars as well as all kinds of cycles and even includes Formula One racing cars.

Heidelberg is some 50 kilometres south-east of Johannesburg, close to the Mpumalanga border. Just south of the town is the De Hoek toll plaza on the newest section of the N3, which opened in December 2001.

Heidelberg sits nestled at the eastern end of the Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, a large tract of land that is home to Gauteng's highest point, almost 2,000 metres above sea level. This part of rural Southern Gauteng is dominated by the Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve situated just to the West of Heidelberg. Suikerbosrand is an area of unspoilt highveld that covers some 13000 hectares. It is home to a wide variety of wildlife and includes 65 kilometres of roads. There are more than 80 kilometres of hiking trails that are all well marked and the visitors' centre includes an auditorium where there are regular talks and seminars.

Heidelberg has played an important part in South African history acting as a capital for the Boer republic during the war with Great Britain. During the First War of Independence, Heidelberg served as capital of the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek under the Triumvirate of Paul Kruger, P.J. Joubert and M.W. Pretorius, from 1880 to 1883.

In 1885 the Witwatersrand gold reef was discovered in the Heidelberg district and the office of the Mining Commissioner was at first established there.

Heidelberg developed as a typical rural Victorian town. Many buildings dating back to the period between 1890 and 1910 have been preserved.

In addition, Heidelberg was home to A.G. Visser a well loved medical doctor and famous Afrikaans poet. His home only open to the public by appointment can still be seen situated close to the main road through town. Historical landmarks in the town includes A.G. Visser's bust and the Klip Kerk.

The British built a concentration camp here during the Second Boer War to house Boer women and children. A monument was erected in the main cemetery to the memory of the women and children.

A monument was erected by the current ANC-lead municipality in the late 90's. It commemorates the black women and children who also died during the war.

The right-wing political party AWB was founded in Rensburg (a suburb of Heidelberg).

Most of the information is from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidelberg,_Gauteng Other sources include: http://www.wheretostay.co.za/information/g/southern_gauteng


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Where to stay:

http://www.hoffeldts.co.za/restaurant.html