Constitution Hill

As Alcatraz is to the United States, so Constitution Hill is to South Africa. But where the former is renowned for its isolated island location and fort-caliber security, the three prisons on Constitution Hill are perhaps most famous for the well-known political figures imprisoned there, including Mahatma Ghandi and Nelson and Winnie Mandela. Over the course of 100 years, tens of thousands of South Africans were jailed in Old Fort, Women’s Jail and Number Four—most vigorously during the apartheid, which lasted from 1948 until 1994, when the country finally achieved democracy.

Since their closure in 1983, all three prisons have been transformed into museums, including Old Fort, which now houses South Africa’s Constitutional Court. A tour of Consitution Hill and its museums are a must for any history buffs or travelers seeking a poignant glimpse into South Africa’s journey from colonial territory to the apartheid system to a democracy.

Recommended by an Indagare community insider.