Alte Feste
Old Fortress
The Alte Feste in April 2006
Alte Feste is located in Namibia
Alte Feste
Location within Namibia
Established1890
LocationRobert Mugabe Avenue, Windhoek, Namibia
TypeFortress and museum
FounderCaptain Curt von François
OwnerNational Museum of Namibia
WebsiteNational Museum of Namibia
The Alte Feste in 1891

The Alte Feste (English: Old Fortress) is a fortress and museum in downtown Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. It is situated in Robert Mugabe Avenue, next to the Independence Memorial Museum.[1]

History

The building was designed by captain Curt von François to serve as headquarters of the imperial German Schutztruppe (colonial military force) during German colonization of South West Africa. The location of Windhoek, which was deserted and completely destroyed at that time, was chosen because the Germans felt it would serve as a buffer zone between the Nama and Herero tribes. The fort was, however, never involved in any military action.

The foundation was laid on 18 October 1890 by the then Schutztruppe private Gustav Tünschel. The building was redesigned multiple times during the first years; its final layout was only completed in 1915.[2] It consists of an inner courtyard with high walls and accommodation for the troops on the inside, as well as four towers. The Alte Feste is the oldest surviving building in the city which subsequently developed around it.

After the World War I German surrender in South West Africa, Windhoek was occupied by the South African Army[3] in March 1915. The Alte Feste now served as military headquarters for the South African Union troops.

In 1935 the fort was used for a more peaceful purpose when it was converted into a hostel for the adjacent Windhoek High School.[4] Already severely dilapidated, it was declared a National Monument in 1957. The building was renovated extensively in 1963.[5]

In 2010, the Reiterdenkmal, Windhoek's well-known equestrian monument, was placed in front of the Alte Feste.[6] It was removed and placed in storage on Christmas Day in 2013.

Usage

The building today accommodates the historic collection of the National Museum of Namibia.[1] As of 2023 Alte Feste is closed and in urgent need of renovation.[7] It is planned to repurpose the building into a centre of arts, craft, and heritage.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 "About us". National Museum of Namibia. 1 December 2003. Archived from the original on 27 December 2005.
  2. ↑ "Die Alte Feste soll nicht sterben" [Alte Feste must not perish]. Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). reprint on 11 Sept 2012. 11 September 1962.
  3. ↑ South African Union troops
  4. ↑ "Windhoek High School". Archived from the original on 2010-10-05. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
  5. ↑ Windhoek, Namibia - TravelButlers.com
  6. ↑ Bause, Tanja (30 January 2012). "Monument's centenary remembered". The Namibian. Archived from the original on 9 December 2012.
  7. ↑ "Owela Museum reduced to rundown homeless shelter". The Namibian. 15 March 2023. p. 6. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  8. ↑ "New lease of life for Alte Feste". The Namibian. 6 March 2023. p. 14.

22°34′10″S 17°05′18″E / 22.5694°S 17.0883°E / -22.5694; 17.0883

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