Christiana, Free State (original) (raw)
Christiana, Lejweleputswa
Set on the banks of the Vaal River, 70 km downstream from the Bloemhof Dam, the town of Christiana brings smiles to the faces of visiting Danes for whom Christiana is a semi-utopian community declared a 'free state' in 1971 in Denmark; a city that make its own laws and raises its own taxes � a 'social experiment' of sorts.
Whilst the Danish Christiana is only 40 years old, the Free State's Christiana has been here since 1869. It too began as a community that sprung up on the farm Zoutpansdrift. But this community was not a group of hippies intent on an alternative lifestyle. It evolved as a result of diamond digging in the area.
Christiana, named after the only daughter of President Pretorius (son of the more famous Voortrekker, Andries Pretorius), lies dead centre of three provinces: the Free State, Northern Cape and North West. Kimberley is 120 km south. As such it serves as an automatic stopover town; a town through which to pass and perhaps stay awhile.
Christiana even boasts its own mineral spring, discovered years ago when a goat herder returne done day talking of acidic smelling black water bubbling out of the earth. Today the Protea Hotel, just three kilometres out of town, features a natural heated mineral pool as part of its spa, and the Aventura Vaal Resort has a hot mineral spring and access to game viewing.
Visit the Christiana Diggers Museum to find out all the history of the town's diamond past, and the sinking of the Digger's Bell. The Vaal River serves as an excellent water sports venue whilst Stows Kopje, a national monument, is the site of prehistoric rock engravings.
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options
Guest House / Self Catering
Lemon Rose Guest House
Lemon Rose Guest House offers affordable, elegant bed and breakfast and self-catering accommodation in Virginia. The property is close to nearby ...
Guest House / Bed & Breakfast
Giardino @ 194
Giardino @ 194 offers bed and breakfast accommodation in Welkom. This is a place where you can relax and be in a different world, an oasis in the...
Self Catering
Marli All in One
Marli Guest House is situated along the main street of Welkom, a town that means welcome and proudly claims its youth status as South Africa's yo...
Hotel / Bed & Breakfast
Uitsig Boutique Hotel
Uitsig Boutique Hotel boasts accommodation with an iconic Cape Dutch, Morgenster style, gable which is one of only two such gables in South Afric...
Bed & Breakfast
Modern Goldfields Apartments
Situated in Virginia, Goldfields Apartments offers comfortable accommodation for up to 12 guests in four rooms. Here you are able to enjoy nature...
Bed & Breakfast / Self Catering
Die Kuierhuis
Die Kuierhuis Guest Farm is located close to Ventersburg in the Free State and is only 150kms from Bloemfontein and 200kms from Johannesburg. You...
Guest House / Bed & Breakfast
Butrin Guest House
Butrin Guest House is located in Welkom in the Free State. Fondly known as the "City Within A Garden", Welkom is (literally) a goldmine of a dest...
Self Catering
Netibed
Netibed is self-catering holiday home With the large front and back porches, one can enjoy the galaxy with a glass of wine. Netibed Holiday Home ...
Guest House
Jolani Guest House
Jolani Guest House can be found in the peaceful area of Riebeeckstad in Welkom. The guest house has seven rooms each offered on a bed & breakfast...
Noteworthy attractions
Nature Reserves
Sandveld Nature Reserve
Regarded as the Free State�s top birding spot, Sandveld Nature Reserve lies on the Free State side of the Bloemhof Dam roughly 200 kilometres nor...
Game Reserves
Willem Pretorius Game Reserve
The Willem Pretorius Game Reserve is situated in the heart of the Free State with the Allemanskraal Dam forming the central part. The reserve its...
Golf Courses
Oppenheimer Park Golf Club
The challenging and well-manicured course, with its profusion of magnificent tall trees lining the fairways, is on the outskirts of the gold-mini...
Lakes / Dams
Erfenis Dam Nature Reserve
The Erfenis Dam Nature Reserve lies in the central Free State between Theunissen (probably the town most central to the Free State) and Winburg, ...
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