The Chavonnes Battery Museum houses the remains of an old cannon battery, one of the fortifications the VOC (the Dutch East India Company) built at the beginning of the 18th century to protect themselves from sea-borne aggressors. It is said to have taken over a decade to complete the battery, which stood at what is now the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Inaugurated in the 1720s, the battery’s firing platform used 16 large guns to open fire on hostile ships from its vantage point overlooking the bay.
The battery remained active until it was partially demolished and buried in 1860. It wasn’t until 1999 that the Chavonnes Battery was rediscovered, excavated, and conserved. Today, the site is home to a museum where visitors can wander around and get an insight into this fascinating part of Cape Town’s history.
The Chavonnes Battery Museum is located at the V&A Waterfront and is open to visitors from 9am to 4pm. Guided tours of the museum are available and highly recommended.