Event information
Designed by Gerard Moerdijk and inaugurated in 1949, the monument is considered one of the top ten cultural historical attractions in the country. 'In the Hall of Heroes' - a tapestry of more than 3 million stitches, which illustrates the complete 15 scenes from the Great Trek - is the world’s longest historical marble frieze.
A 'Voortrekker Museum' was moved to the basement of the Monument in December 2000 and has various information panels to create a balanced picture of the Pioneers, their every-day life and relations with other inhabitants of southern Africa.
The Cenotaph is the central focus point of the Monument. The word cenotaph means 'empty tomb'. It is the symbolic resting place of Piet Retief and all the other Voortrekkers who died during the Great Trek. Once a year, on 16 December, the sun shines through an opening in the dome roof of the Monument onto the middle of the Cenotaph.
