Bloemfontein, Free State

Nicknamed as the "City of Roses", Bloemfontein is the capital city of the Free State Province in South Africa. Located roughly in the middle of the province, it is placed centrally in South Africa.

It is the sixth largest capital in South Africa besides being an Important Judicial capital. The reasons for the city being called as city of roses is the abundance of roses in Bloemfontein, Free State. Annual rose festivals are also held in Bloemfontein and is very popular with the tourists as well as the locals.

Once you land on the grounds of Bloemfontein, it is a different feeling altogether.

The warmth of the place is likely to catch your imagination for sure. The whole ambiance of the place is perfect for a vacation or for quality life. Clean and peaceful, this place can be considered for a visit if you are looking for an absolutely stress free vacation and some moments of self reflection. The litter free pavements and the avenues are simply alluring for the eyes and no matter how hard you try, there is no escape from the magic of Bloemfontein, Free State.

Predominantly, an Afrikaner settlement, officially Bloemfontein was founded in the year 1846 as a fort by a British army major Henry Douglas Warden. After sometime there was a shift in the colonial policies that led to the emergence of Orange River Sovereignty (1848-1854) and eventually the Orange Free State Republic (1854-1902). In 1910, Bloemfontein became the Judicial capital of South Africa.

The imprints of the past life can be caught in the impressive architectural and historical structures that present a pretty picture of the bygone era.

The marks of the past coexist with the modern developing city blissfully, the blending of the past and the present is simply great to experience. Amongst the popular attractions of Bloemfontein, tree-lined President Brand Street is frequently visited by the tourists. It has been declared as a national monument by the government. There are many small monuments and memorials that serve as places of interest in Bloemfontein.

Some other historical structures that deserve mention are City Hall, Old Presidency, the Anglican Cathedral, railway station, the Dutch Reformed twin tower church or the buildings of judicial implication. Besides the historical venues you can even consider visiting Orchid House which promises to be an unique experience. There is a popular venue for a get together called the Loch Logan. The Botanical Gardens or the Aventura Maselspoort are two of the other places that are worth visiting.

For the art lovers, exploring the Bloemfontein National Museum and the Women's Memorial and War Museum is mandatory if you do not want to miss out some of the interesting facts linked with the museums. The charm of Bloemfontein is contagious and you are bound to come for a second trip if ever you make the first trip.

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