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Bloemfontein means “Fountain of flowers”. The annual rose festival is held in Bloemfontein was founded by a a British army major Henry Douglas Warden, as an outpost in 1846.
In the Battle of Paardeberg in 1900, the city was taken by British forces and a concentration camp was built to house Afrikaner woman and children along with other captives. The monument stands on the outskirts of the city paying homage to thousands of woman and children who died in the camps.
Today Bloemfontein serves as the judicial capital of South Africa, housing the Supreme Court of Appeals.
Maphikela House where the ANC started out is also located Bloemfontein, in Batho.
Some famous people associated with Bloemfontein are;
J.R.R Tolkien – famous writer
Hansie Cronje - Famous SA Cricket captain
Leon Schuster Comedian and film producer
Ryk Neethling – Olympic Gold Medal swimmer
Bloemfontein has a rich masonic history.
In 1970 a Masonic Centre was built in Bloemfontein after the properties were all sold off. Lodges still in use are Lodge Unie, The Rising Star Lodge, Thistle Lodge and Emerald Lodge. Visitors to some of these lodges include, Rudyard Kipling, Lord Kitchener and Sir Conan Arthur Doyle.
Some side degrees are also housed here like Rose Croix and Royal Arch.
Tertiary education in Bloemfontein comes from the University of Free State and Central University of Technology.
There are many schools, both primary and secondary schools, which cater for learners. These include both government and private schools.
Property values in Bloemfontein are equal to those across large centres of South Africa, catering for the full income spectrum. There are exclusive lifestyle estates and golf estates, like Woodland Hill Lifestyle Estate. There are upmarket suburbs catering for the well endowed financially.
Your dream home could be awaiting you in Bloemfontein. Take a tour of the links and find out. Make an online offer and save on agent's commission.
