A town steeped in Voortrekker history, Winburg is the second oldest town in the Free State after Phillipolis and the first to have been founded by the Voortrekkers. The land was bought from the Bataung tribe by Hendrik Potgieter for 42 head of cattle. Winburg served as the first Voortrekker capital of the Republic of the Orange Free State. Today, Winburg serves a large mixed farming area.

GENERAL INFORMATION

How to get there - Bloemfontein 110 km, Ventersburg 51 km, Kroonstad 101 km

HISTORICAL VIEW

Dutch Reformed Churches

A second church was built following a split of the congregation in 1917. The ‘new’ sandstone church is located next to the older one. The foundation of the first Dutch Reformed Church was laid by Free State President MT Steyn in 1899. The church served as hospital during the Anglo Boer War.

Fords Hotel - An historical hotel, whose dining hall was used by the Voortrekkers.

Garden of Remembrance - In memory of the Voortrekkers of the Great Trek

MT Steyn Museum

The homestead of MT Steyn, former president of the Free State Republic (1895) is today a museum located on the grounds of the Voortrekker Monument

Old Church - Makeleketla. One of the first churches to be built in the area.

Post Office Building - Voortrekker architecture

Stone Huts - Prehistoric huts offering a glimpse into the early history of the region.

Voortrekker Cemetery

Located south of town, this is the oldest Voortrekker cemetery in the country.

Voortrekker Monument

Originally selected as the site for the building of a Voortrekker Monument, eventually erected in Pretoria. The Winburg monument was erected in 1968.

ATTRACTIONS

Aventura Aldam Resort

Willem Pretorius Nature Reserve

ACTIVITIES

Outdoors – Bird Watching, Game Viewing

Accommodation in and around Winburg