Alexandria, which was formerly known as Zandvliet, is a historic town located in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It borders the Great Fish River to the north, and it’s also close to Port Alfred and Grahamstown. Its history dates back to 1665 when the Dutch began building Castle Drakenstein on top of an earlier stone fort that had been built by Jan van Riebeeck.
Why is Alexandria famous?
In 1698, the Dutch East India Company established a settlement at what is now known as Alexandria. The settlement was erected intending to export products such as cattle, wool and grain. Governor Willem Adriaan van der Stel who named it after Alexander the Great chose the name Alexandria. By 1707, there were thirteen companies operating out of this port and they had exported almost 100 000 tonnes of wheat.
What can you see and do in Alex?
If you’re looking for something to do in Alexandria, there are plenty of options to choose from. There are so many things to see and do that it’s hard to list them all! But here are some suggestions:
-The National Museum is always worth a visit for its collection of culturally important artefacts. -Visit the iconic Union Building and have your photo taken with one of the most famous statues on Earth.
What are some things you didn’t know about Alex?
– The district council is called Alex Local Municipality. – It has an airport, with domestic and international flights. – The population is around 120 000. – There are two universities and one technical college located there. – One university is named after Nelson Mandela while another is named after Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
