Bloemfontein

Municipality

Municipality: Mangaung Municipality
District Municipality: Motheo District Municipality

Bloemfontein Tourism Bureau

Tourism Centre
Bloemfontein

Phone number: 051-405-8489
Fax number: 051-447-3859
Email: Email inquiry
Web: See the website

Bloemfontein means 'Fountain of flowers' in Dutch. It is possible that Bloemfontein was named after the Griqua Captain Jan Bloem (1775-1858).

Events

Bloemfontein is host to the 19th FIFA World Cup. Matches will be played at the Free State Stadium.

Matches in Bloemfontein | Full schedule

Attractions

Also see the neighbouring towns

Bloemfontein hosts the only Botanical Gardens in the Free State. It offers all the typical entertainment of a small city.

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History

The orginal fountain was frequented by game, and known as Mnaung (Place of the Leopards) by the local tribes. In 1840 Johannes Brits was the firts coloniser to settle at the place. In 1846 the farm was bought by Major Henry Douglas Warden, who built a tiny fort of mud and stones. The fort was named Fort Drury, but has no remains today. After 1848 another larger fort was built on one of the dominant hills. It was called Queen's Fort. During this time Bloemfontein served as the key British military base on the central plains of South Africa. The town was abandoned by the British in 1854, and the flag of the new Republic of the Orange Free State was raised. Bloemfontein remained the capital of this repblic until their defeat in the Anglo-Boer War.

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Climate

Today's Weather Report for Bloemfontein
The city has an annual rainfall of 500mm with warm and green summers, and cold and dry winters. Bloemfontein lies 1'392m above sea-level.

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