Pietermaritzburg

The city of Pietermaritzburg was founded in 1838 as the capital of Natalia by the Voortrekkers. Surprisingly, it is one of the most Victorian cities in the world. It lies on the south-western edge of one of the great natural wonders of KwaZulu Natal, namely the Valley of a Thousand Hills.

The city of Pietermaritzburg is well situated for an overnight rest stop en route to the Battlefields or the Drakensberg.

Events

At the end of May each year the Comrades Marathon is run between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, starting alternate years in each city. One year they run downhill and the next uphill. With a gruelling 90 km to run, it is one of the toughest races in the world whichever way you go!

History

Pietermaritzburg was named after two of the best-known voortrekkers in history, Pieter Retief and Gerrit Maritz.

During the city's first year it was run along the same lines as a laager (a defensive ring of ox wagons from which the voortrekkers could repel attacks). As with all the Voortrekker Republics, this one proved to be transitory and the area was annexed by the British, who stationed a garrison to watch over the voortrekkers.

The town flourished with an influx of British and German immigrants and became the capital city of Natal after the Union of South Africa was constituted in 1910.

One of the oldest buildings outside the Cape is Pietermaritzburg's Church of the Vow, built in thanksgiving for the victory over the Zulus at the terrible Battle of Blood River. The oldest house in town is a thatched home built for Andries Pretorius who led the voortrekkers in this bloody battle.

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