Windhoek: Windhoek’s Historical Buildings, Namibia

Displayed:   times.

Most of Windhoek’s historical buildings date from around the turn of the century, and are close to the centre of town. Walking is the obvious way to see these. Starting in the Post Street Mall, here is one suggested sequence, taking about two or three hours:
Clock tower At the junction of the Mall with Independence Avenue is a replica of the clock tower that was once on the old Deutsche-Afrikabank. The original was constructed in 1908.,
Gibeon meteorites On the middle of the mall is a sculpture, incorporating 33 meteorites that fell around Gibeon. These were part of what is thought to have been the world’s heaviest shower of meteorites, which occurred around 600 million years ago. About 77 meteorites, with a total mass of 21 tons, have been recovered so far, many of which are in museums around the globe.
Now turn southeast, towards Christus Kirche, and cross Independence Avenue into Zoo Park. From there, you can get a good view of three fine buildings on the west side of Independence Avenue. They were designed by Willi Sander, a German who designed many of Windhoek’s older landmarks. The right one of the three, Erkrathus Building, was built in 1910: a business downstairs, and a place to live upstairs. Gathemann House, the building in the middle, was designed for Heinrich Gathemann, who was then the mayor of Klein Windhoek, and built in 1913 to a basically European design, complete with a steep roof to prevent any accumulation of snow! Again, it originally had living quarters above the business. Kronprinz Hotel was designed and built by Willi Sander in the years 1901 and 1902. It was extended in 1909, and refurbished and extended in 1920. It is now overshadowed by the Sanlam building, but a plan has been made to modernise the shops (one of which is Nakara) whilst preserving the façades.

Continuing into Zoo Park, on green lawns under its palm trees you will find two features of note:

Elephant Column A sculptured column over a metre high marks the place where primitive tools and elephant remains, dated to about 5,000 years ago, were found. Scenes of an imagined elephant hunt kill are depicted in bas-relief (by Namibian sculptress Dörte Berner), and a fossilised elephant skull tops the column.

War memorial On the south side of the elephant column is this memorial, about a century old, crowned by an eagle, and dedicated to German soldiers killed whilst fighting the Nama people led by Hendrik Witbooi. As yet there is no memorial for the Namas.
Christus Kirche In a commanding position, now on its own roundabout, this ‘fairytale’ Evangelical Lutheran Church is Windhoek’s most famous building. It was designed, by Gottlieb Redecker, in Art Nouveau and neo-Gothic styles, and built, between 1907 and 1910, of local sandstone. Kaiser Wilhelm II donated the stained-glass windows; his wife, Augusta, gave the altar bible. Originally this church commemorated the peace at the end of various wars between the German colonists and the indigenous people of Namibia, and inside are plaques dedicated to the German soldiers who were killed. (As yet, there’s no mention of the losses of the indigenous people...) If you wish to see inside, the key can be borrowed during office hours from the church offices, just down the hill at 12 Peter Müller Street.
Now head south on Independence Avenue a short way until your first left turn, up Peter Müller Street. On the other side of the corner are Windhoek’s best street-sellers for baskets, and the grab-a-phone/bus/taxi terminus. On the left, on the far corner of Lüderitz Street, you will see:

Hauptkasse Used as the house of the Receiver of Revenue, as well as officers’ quarters and even a hostel, it is now the Directorate of Extension Services, within the Ministry of Agriculture.

Ludvig Van Estorff House Opposite the Hauptkasse, on the south side of Peter Müller Street, this was simply built in 1891, as a canteen, and is named after a commander of the Schutztruppe who lived here in 1902–10. It is now the National Reference Library.
Kaiserliche Realschule On the west side of Robert Mugabe Avenue, just near Christus Kirche, this is now part of the National Museum. However, it was built in 1907–8 as a school, and became Windhoek’s first German high school.

Walking further south along Robert Mugabe Avenue, you’ll see the new Bank of Namibia building. On your right, just before crossing Sam Nujoma Drive, is:

The Office of the Ombudsman Built as a dwelling for the chief justice and his first clerk, this was originally erected in 1906–7, and has much decorative work typical of the German ‘Putz’ style of architecture. The original stables are now a garage and outbuilding.

Now turn around and walk back towards Christus Kirche, on the right (east) side of Robert Mugabe Avenue.

Alte Feste The large building on the right is the old fort, built by the first Schutztruppe when they arrived here around 1890. It is strategically positioned, overlooking the valley, though its battlements were never seriously besieged. A plaque on the front maintains the colonial view that it was built to ‘preserve peace and order’ between the local warring tribes – which is as poor a justification for colonialism as any. Inside is now the main historical section of the National Museum.

The Equestrian Statue To the left of the Alte Feste is a large statue of a mounted soldier, commemorating the German soldiers killed during the wars to subdue the Nama and Herero groups, around 1903–7. (Here, too, there’s no mention of the Nama or Herero people who died.)
State House As you continue north along Robert Mugabe Avenue, on the left is the president’s official residence. This was built as recently as 1958, on the site of the old German governor’s residence. Until 1990, this was used by South Africa’s administrator general.

It is now a short walk left, down Manumava Road, back to join Independence Avenue by the main Post Office.
Parliament (formerly Tintenpalast) Once back at the Christus Kirche, turning right (east) leads you to what were originally the administrative offices of the German colonial government. The building became known as the Tintenpalast, or Ink Palace, for the amount of bureaucracy that went on there, and has housed successive governments since around 1912. The Germans occupied it for only about a year, before losing the colony to South Africa after World War I. Now this beautiful double-storey building is home to Namibia’s parliament. When the assembly is not in session, you can book a place on a 45-minute tour by phoning 061 288 2627, which integrates well into this short walking tour, perhaps 1˝–2 hours after the start. More info on: www.namibiatourism.com

Rate this tip:

Rate!

Add Comment >>

Your Name:

Your Comment:

General Tips about Namibia

» Required travel documents for Namibia
» Electric power
» Area code to Namibia
» Namibia, types of safari tours.
» Namibia, activities and tours.
» Namibia, clothing & personal care.
» Namibia, Visas & other documents.
» Namibia, wildlife.
» Namibia, climate
» Namibia - Kaokoland
» Namibia - Waterberg Plateau Park
» Namibia - Skeleton Coast National Park
» Namibia - Namib Naukluft Game Reserve
» Namibia - Mahango Game Reserve
» Namibia - Khaudom Game Reserve
» Namibia - Fish River Canyon National Park
» Namibia
» Namibia - Damaraland Wilderness Reserve
» Namibia - Daan Viljoen Game Park
» Namibia - Caprivi Game Reserve
» Namibia - Cape Cross Seal Reserve
» Namibia - Windhoek
» Namibia - Walvis Bay
» Namibia - Swakopmund
» Namibia - Luderitz
» When To Go To Namibia
» Abseiling
» Water adventures
» Dune adventures
» Mountaineering & Rockclimbing
» 4 x 4 Trails
» Hiking
» Physical Infrastructure
» International & Domestic Airports
» Airlines & Airports
» What to pack
» Tax & Customs
» Currency & Credit Cards
» Time
» Entry Requirements
» Weather
» People
» Transportation in Namibia
» Communications in Namibia
» History
» Wreck of the Winston
» Wondergat
» Windhoek: Windhoek’s Historical Buildings
» Windhoek: Museums, Galleries and Libraries
» White Lady
» Welwitschia Drive
» Vingerklip – The Rock Finger
» Two Craters
» Toscanini
» Torra Bay Area
» The Uniab River
» The Ugab River
» The Omaruru River
» The Koichab River
» The Huab River
» The Giant’s Playground
» Swakopmund Coast: Welwitschia Drive
» Spitzkoppe
» Sesriem Canyon
» Reho Spa
» Popa Falls
» Organ Pipes
» Oanob Lake Resort
» Mukurob
» Möwe Bay
» Lüderitz: Nautilus Hill
» Lüderitz: Museum
» Lüderitz: Goerke Haus (The Blue House)
» Lüderitz Carpet Weaving Factory
» Lüderitz Peninsula
» Lake Otjikoto
» Lake Liambezi
» Lake Guinas
» Hidden Vlei
» Hartmann’s Valley
» Gaub Caves
» Garub Pan
» Elizabeth Bay
» Elim Dune
» Dead Vlei
» Burnt Mountain
» Brandberg
» Bogenfels
» Agate Beach
» Vingerklip
» Tsumkwe
» Tsumeb
» Otjiwarongo
» Otavi
» Hobas Meteorite
» Grootfontein
» Dragon's Breath
» Dinosaur Footprints
» Caprivi
» Walvisbay
» Usakos
» Swakopmund
» Skeleton Coast Park
» Omaruru
» Karibib
» Hentiesbay
» ERONGO MOUNTAIN NATURE CONSERVANCY
» EPUPA FALLS
» CAPE CROSS SEAL RESERVE
» BRANDBERG
» Warmbad
» Sesriem
» LÜDERITZ WATERFRONT
» Kolmanskop Ghost Town
» Kalahari
» Hardap Dam
» EAGLES MONUMENT IN THE GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE
» Duwiseb Castle
» Desert Horses
» Brukkaros Mountain
» Bethanie
» Von Bach Dam
» Rehoboth
» Okahandja
» Gross Barmen Hot Springs
» Gobabis
» The Gamsberg
» DAAN VILJOEN GAME RESERVE
» Arnhem Cave
» Caprivi
» Fish River Canyon
» Namib Desert
» Quiver Tree Forest
» Duwiseb Castle
» Kolmanskoppe
» Fishriver Canyon
» Ai-Ais Hot springs Resort
» Naukluft Mountain
» Sesriem Canyon
» Sossus Vlei
» Namib Naukluft Park
» Namib region
» Central Region
» Central North
» North West - Damaraland and Kaokoland
» North East - Bushmanland
» North East - Kavango
» North East - Caprivi
» Hunting
» Swakopmund
» Sossusvlei
» Namib-naukluft national park
» Namibia
» Lüderitz
» Fish River Canyon
» Etosha National Park
» Windhoek

   More travel tips about Namibia