The union buildings is in pretoria since its the executive capital. Our spacious deluxe rooms are ideal for families as they feature interleading rooms. The documentary of union buildings is a tourist view documentary, sharing the history and fact about the buildings itself and it environment. Mar 05, 2016 pretoria railway station the heritage portal choosing the site for the union buildings. The imposing buildings are located atop meintjieskop at the northern end of arcadia, close to historic church square and the voortrekker monument. The pretoria railway station is an undervalued gem designed by sir herbert baker and completed in 1910. Unfotrunately not acsessable for the public to visit inside because the offices are used by the prime minister and other ministers. The buildings are situated near the top of meintjieskop and from this vantage point a visitor has uninterrupted views of pretorias tall skyscrapers and the surrounding jacarandalined suburbs.
The union buildings opened back in 19, marking the union of south africa. Po box 23009 helderkruin roodepoort 1733 south africa. Union buildings pretoria 2020 what to know before you. Within the grounds are various monuments and statues. Union buildings pretoria, south africa the official government buildings, they also house the housings of the official president. Dont miss out on great deals for things to do on your trip to pretoria. The union building is the official presidents office in the administrative capital of south africa which is pretoria.
Union buildings in pretoria, south africa sight map, attraction information, photo and list of walking tours containing this attraction. Union buildings, pretoria, southafrica union buildings. The union buildings are a great picnic spot for a few hours. Inside a modest victorian on church street, the kruger house museum is the oldest and best known house in pretoria. It is within walking distance from the union buildings, woolworths food market, loftus park which includes virgin active gym, checkers and various restaurants. Located in pretoria, a 10minute walk from union buildings, east view guesthouse provides accommodations with an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a shared lounge and a garden. The voortrekker monument is located just south of pretoria in south africa. The corner stone of the union buildings in pretoria is. A ninemetre high bronze statue of nelson mandela has stood at the foot of the union buildings since it was unveiled by jacob zuma a day after mandelas funeral in qunu, in december 20. Today it is still the official seat of government and houses the offices of the president of south africa.
There is no fee to enter the union buildings grounds, which are open daily. Located in the east of pretoria, the union buildings are easily accessible by bus. The union buildings are considered south africas architectural masterpiece. The union buildings pretoria like our whitehouse youtube. Pretoria s famous union buildings, the official seat of south africas government. Union guesthouse is situated in the heart of pretoria. Come see the beautiful architecture, jacaranda trees and even the mandela statue with the pretoria skyline in the background. The 10 best hotels near union buildings in pretoria, south.
The union buildings are a great place to walk around, absorb the crisp cool air of pretoria on a sunny day and fantastic for a picnic. Jul 14, 2011 the union buildings are considered south africas architectural masterpiece. To find the driving direction from pretoria to union buildings which is 2 by road, click on show directions after entering start and end locations in the calculator control. Check out the best tours and activities to experience union buildings. Union buildings form the official seat of the national government, it also house the offices of the south african president. Nelson mandelas coffin arrives at union buildings, pretoria subscribe to the guardian here.
Within 5 km are the hatfield gautrain station, university of pretoria, hatfield plaza and the pretoria art museum. The buildings are the most iconic landmark in pretoria, and one of the most important in south africa. The union buildings should definitely be on your list for a picnic spot the next time you are around gauteng south africa, send us something. The union buildings, fronted by a nelson mandela statue, may be pretorias most prominent landmark.
Union buildings history virtual tour guide to pretoria. Pretorias union buildings, the official seat of the national government, house the. These imposing buildings were originally designed by sir herbert baker for the recently founded 1910 union of south africa. It was designed by sir herbert baker in 1908 and the building process began in 1909. No visit to pretoria can be complete without a visit to this beautiful landmark. Pretoria railway station the heritage portal choosing the site for the union buildings. Also during 1909 herbert baker was commissioned by the transvaal government to design the government building of the union of south africa. The union buildings which is a 285 metre long sandstone building was designed by sir herbert baker in 1910. Union buildings pretoria 2020 all you need to know before you. The sandstone building, designed by sir herbert baker, was started in 1910 to commemorate south africa s unionstatus, obtained in that year. Union buildings pretoria 2020 all you need to know. Pretoria to union buildings 2 ways to travel via taxi. The union buildings and its spectacular gardens are a must see when visiting pretoria. Union buildings the union buildings form the official seat of the south african government and also house the offices of the president of south africa.
The grand union buildings sit on meintjies kop and overlook the city of pretoria did you know. According to tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience union buildings. And if theres no time measurement on really great or funky new buildings, we can evaluate them by the impact they make in the here. The union buildings were built from light sandstone and were designed by the architect sir herbert baker in the english monumental style. Photo by unknown sightseeing at the buildings although the public is not allowed to enter the buildings, unless it is a prearranged tour, the outside of the building alone, and its gardens, give a spectacular and memorable experience to its many visitors. The surrounding grounds are huge and friendly for walking. Pretoria s union buildings, the official seat of the national government, house the offices of the south african president and are located atop the meintjieskop in the arcadia suburb of tshwane. It was built between 1986 and 1988 and was the first flushglazed glass tower block in the southern hemisphere.
Hotel photos sheraton pretoria hotel photo gallery. Our deluxe rooms have wooden floors as well as the standard amenities. Enter the grounds through one of the gates along stanza bopape street to the south. Pretoria is a multicultural city, with a decidedly international flair. The seven architectural wonders of pretoria if theres one thing about older buildings that makes them noteworthy, its that they still stand out as grand pieces of architecture decades or centuries later. This massive granite structure is prominently located on a hilltop, and was raised to commemorate the voortrekkers who left the cape colony between 1835 and 1854 on 8 july 2011 the voortrekker monument, designed by the architect gerard moerdijk, was declared a national heritage site by the south. Top 10 most beautiful presidential palaces in africa. The building has now been recognised as a pivotal spot in south african history, and is officially a national heritage site. If you want to find things to see and do in the area, you might want to stop in and see loftus versfeld stadium and national zoological gardens of south africa. The statue was unveiled on the day of reconciliation 16 december 20, bringing the official mourning period of ten days to a close, after mandela had died on 5 december. Designed by sir herbert baker in 19, this impressive range of sandstone buildings mixes italian renaissance, english renaissance, and cape dutch styles. Like an ancient temple adorning over the city it governs, the union buildings are. An important south african heritage site, the impressive building is surrounded by pretty terraced gardens that offer panoramic views over the city.
In 1956, a group of women 20,000 strong, marched to the doors of the union building, chanting wathint abafazi, wathint imbokodo. Get offline map and directions using our gpsmycity selfguided walking tours app for your mobile device. Designed and built by herbert baker and completed in 19, the union buildings housed the administrative offices of the union of south africa. At 150 metres 492 feet, the tallest building in pretoria is home to the south african reserve bank and has 38 floors. Mar, 2019 the seven architectural wonders of pretoria if theres one thing about older buildings that makes them noteworthy, its that they still stand out as grand pieces of architecture decades or centuries later. The building was bakers first public building commission and he used it to experiment with many techniques and designs later used in the design of the union buildings. Melvin residence guest house is located in the suburb of arcadia, less than 10 minutes drive from pretoria city. Visitors enjoy pretoria for attractions such as the shops. This impressive structure was designed by sir herbert baker himself, and its 285 metre long body was built from sandstone in the british imperial style. From the hotels union terrace you have a splendid view over pretorias famous union buildings. Nelson mandelas coffin arrives at union buildings, pretoria youtube. View from our union buildingfacing rooms splendid view over pretoria s famous union buildings, the official seat of south africas government.
The seven architectural wonders of pretoria pretoria. On 14 october 1931, pretoria got official city status. According to tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience union buildings. If your trip is not within the next 72 hours, please hold off calling customer service so we can help those traveling immediately. The nelson mandela statue at the union buildings in pretoria is one of south africas national heritage sites. The 10 best hotels near union buildings in pretoria, south africa.
Reserve your spot today and pay when youre ready for thousands of tours on viator. Between 1860 and 1994, the city was also the capital of the province of transvaal. In old pretoria, travelers find the new south africa cnn travel. We cant gurantee the accuracy andor they being up to date. Unfortunately, you cannot go inside the buildings themselves, but visitors are. The world africa and indian ocean south africa johannesburg gauteng pretoria union buildings youve reached the end of this gallery. Sep 09, 2019 set in beautiful gardens, the union buildings command the highest point of the city on meintjieskop hill near historic church square, site of the citys first settlement. The union buildings are not only an important south african heritage site, but the impressive presidential complex is surrounded by pretty terraced gardens that offer panoramic views over the city. We recommend booking union buildings tours ahead of time to secure your spot. Union buildings pretoria 2020 all you need to know before. The union buildings is the seat of the south african government and is situated in the capital city, pretoria, now known as tshwane. The union buildings form part of the logo for the city of tshwane, the administrative capital of south africa the sandstone building, designed by sir herbert baker, was started in 1910 to commemorate south africas unionstatus, obtained in that year.
The view from the union building is breathtaking and the architecture of sir herbert baker very interesting. The union buildings are easily the most famous building in south africa. It takes around 5 to reach pretoria to union buildings. The union buildings in pretoria, south africa, is home to the offices of the state president and the department of foreign affairs. When wilma cruise and marcus holmes were approached to design a memorial to commemorate the womens.
The birth of the union buildings the heritage portal. Whitney houston meeting pres nelson mandela at the union buildings in pretoria, south africa 1994 duration. It is always expected that these buildings of great significance and importance are magnificent enough to rank with the best in the country and around the world. Better still, why dont you take a bus to pretoria and see the building in all its glory yourself. In old pretoria, travelers find the new south africa. Oct 08, 2015 the union building is south africas most famous landmark, but here follows five facts you might not have known about it. The union building is south africas most famous landmark, but here follows five facts you might not have known about it. As you would know south africa has a total of 3 capital cities which are bloemfonteinjudicial, cape town legislative and pretoria administrative. Mar 11, 2017 the union buildings is in pretoria since its the executive capital. The imposing buildings are located in pretoria, atop meintjieskop at the northern end of arcadia, close to historic church square and the voortrekker monument. The war ended in pretoria with the signing of the peace of vereeniging on may 31 1902. Dec 18, 20 dominating pretoria s skyline, the union buildings have seen administrations come and go, and paid witness to political protests and declarations of social unity. After a gamedrivesafari in the morning in pilanesberg national park, we went to sun city resort located in a hilly area near the park. Unfortunately the inside of the buildings are not open to the public but visitors can walk right up to them, while the terraced gardens and lawns present many spots.
Were adding new images to our galleries every day so check back soon. The union buildings form the official seat of the south african government and also house the offices of the president of south africa. Sun city resort, union buildings, voortrekker monument continue from south africa travel part v day 6 thursday, 1 dec 2016. In 1910, pretoria then became the administrative capital of all of south africa, with cape town the legislative capital. A lot of presidential palaces are sites worth beholding and here are the top 10 most beautiful presidential palaces in africa. The union buildings form part of the logo for the city of tshwane, the administrative capital of south africa. Book your tickets online for union buildings, pretoria. In old pretoria, travelers find the new south africa cnn. The grand union buildings sit on meintjies kop and overlook the city of pretoria. Nelson mandela is a bronze sculpture on the union buildings grounds, pretoria, gauteng, of former president of south africa and antiapartheid activist nelson mandela. Statue of nelson mandela, union buildings wikipedia.
Visit union buildings on your trip to pretoria or south africa. The union buildings, the official seat of the south african governement union buildings. The union buildings, pretoria the sabbatical guide. Browse 5,063 union buildings stock photos and images available or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images.
Dominating pretorias skyline, the union buildings have seen administrations come and go, and paid witness to political protests and declarations of social unity. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. The building has now been recognised as a pivotal spot in south african history, and is. Pretorias union buildings, the official seat of the national government, house the offices of the south african president and are located atop the meintjieskop in the arcadia suburb of tshwane. Oct 08, 2019 the union buildings are easily the most famous building in south africa. The union buildings in pretoria are impressive, form the official seat of the south african government and also house the offices of the president of south africa. Like a castle on a hill, the union buildings tower over the pretoria city centre. The imposing buildings are located in pretoria, atop meintjieskop at the.