Constitution Hill

Constitution Hill is one of the most layered places in Johannesburg: a hilltop precinct in Braamfontein that contains the Old Fort prison, the Number Four and Women's Jail, and, built into the same site, South Africa's Constitutional Court. The fort was built by the Boer republic in the 1890s, and for the following century it was used to imprison those the state wanted to control, from ordinary awaiting-trial prisoners to political figures. Mohandas Gandhi was held here in 1908, and Nelson Mandela passed through as both a prisoner and an awaiting-trial defendant, as did Albertina Sisulu, Joe Slovo and thousands of others whose names never made headlines. When the Constitutional Court opened here in 2004, the architects reused bricks from the demolished awaiting-trial block in its walls, so the building literally rises from the prison. Today you can tour the cells, the courtyards and the Women's Jail, then step into the court itself, with its distinctive Great African Tree design and the extraordinary art collection inside. The visitor centre opens early and tickets are sold until mid-afternoon, so plan to arrive well before closing.

The site runs several guided options. A one-hour Highlights tour leaves hourly on the hour, the longer Full tour of around two hours runs at set times each morning and afternoon, and private full tours can be arranged at your own pace. Special evening and themed tours run monthly for groups. Admission is modest by international standards, with online tickets discounted slightly, and a handful of public holidays through the year are free entry days. The venue is closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, and closes early on the eves, so check the website for the current calendar.

What you will actually see: the Old Fort is a collection of low stone and brick buildings with long corridors, small cells and a communal shower block, and guides explain the harsh differences in how white, Indian, coloured and black prisoners were treated. Number Four, once the black men's section, has some of the most affecting spaces, including the solitary cells and the chilling stories of everyday indignities. The Women's Jail has been turned into a museum with a strong focus on women's resistance. The Constitutional Court's foyer and gallery display the Bill of Rights in all eleven official languages, and the building is open to the public when court is not in sitting.

How to fit it in: Constitution Hill pairs well with the Apartheid Museum on the same day, and with the Origins Centre or Maboneng for a city-centre afternoon. It sits next to the Braamfontein district, where cafes and Wits University make a pleasant stop. Wear flat shoes, expect a good deal of walking, and leave time for the on-site cafe and shop. It is very good for teenagers and adults with an interest in justice and history, and a strong alternative if you prefer a shorter, more intimate site to the larger museum.