Castle Kyalami
Coordinates: 25°59′53″S 28°3′34″E / 25.99806°S 28.05944°E
| Castle Kyalami | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Castle |
| Architectural style | Arthurian |
| Location | Kyalami, Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Technical details | |
| Floor area | 64,000 square feet (5,900 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Owner | Church of Scientology |
| Architect | Demos Dinopoulos |
Castle Kyalami (also referred to as Kyalami Castle) is a castle located in Kyalami in the province of Gauteng, north of Johannesburg, South Africa. Formerly a tourist attraction and hotel, the castle was purchased by the Church of Scientology in March 2008.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Background
Castle Kyalami was built in the 1990s by Greek millionaire and architect Demos Dinopoulos, who had intended it to be status symbol for his extended family.[2] Located in the northern Johannesburg suburb of Kyalami, the castle is set on 22 acres.[3] The 64,000-square-foot (5,900 m2) castle has an Arthurian style, and contains a spa, 24 suites, a luxury hotel, a restaurant, a conference centre and its own helipad.[1][2][4][5]
In the guidebook Lonely Planet: South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, Fitzpatrick et al. describe the "mock castle" as "one of Jo'burg's true oddities".[2] When the castle was still a tourist attraction, Abigail Wills of the publication Conference & Incentive Travel recommended it for those visiting the area: "Former private residences such as Ballito Manor, 50km from Durban, The Castle in Kyalami and the Saxon in Johannesburg are ideal for exclusive use."[4]
The castle was the site of the "Ika East Meets Africa" fashion show on August 13, 2003,[6] and has been used in the past for business conferences.[7][8] Prior to being purchased by the Church of Scientology the castle functioned as a hotel,[9] and as of July 2006 the castle was the flagship for Planet Hotels.[10]
[edit] Purchased by Church of Scientology
In March 2008, the castle was purchased by the Church of Scientology for an undisclosed amount.[1] Paul Sondergaard, National Director of the Church of Scientology's Public Affairs Office, stated that the grounds will serve as a Scientology retreat: "We were looking for a building big enough for these purposes, that had some character and was out of the city rush".[1] In a Scientology press release, Sondergaard also said that Scientologists would conduct advanced spiritual training at the castle: "For all African Scientologists, this is a dream finally come true ... It means a lot to the future expansion of the Church in Africa."[11]
The purchase was part of an expansion into South Africa by the Church of Scientology, which purchased buildings in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban and Pretoria around the same time.[12] The Castle Kyalami is the Church of Scientology's 66th global acquisition to their international property holdings.[13] According to Scopical, "It is believed that the new property will be used as a central base for the organisation's expansion in Africa."[13]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Gerardy, Justine (March 15, 2008). "Scientologists buy Kyalami Castle". The Saturday Star (South Africa): pp. 2.
- ^ a b c Fitzpatrick, Mary; Becca Blond, Gemma Pitcher, Simon Richmond, Matt Warren (November 15, 2004). Lonely Planet: South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Lonely Planet Publications. p. 386. ISBN 1741041627.
- ^ Staff (March 16, 2007). "South Africa: Get Away From It All". AllAfrica (AllAfrica.com). http://allafrica.com/stories/200703160996.html. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
- ^ a b Wills, Abigail (December 4, 2002). "South Africa - Incentives: The African Experience - As well as aspirational options such as safaris, ground operators are offering groups a taste of the 'real' Africa, as Abigail Wills discovers". Conference & Incentive Travel (Brand Republic: Haymarket Media). http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/165957/. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
- ^ Shah, Neel (March 25, 2008). "Scientology Sets Sights on African Expansion". Radar Online (Radar Magazine). http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2008/03/scientology-sets-sights-on-african-expansion.php. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
- ^ ANTARA, The Indonesian National News Agency (August 8, 2003). "Mardiana Ika Brings Indonesian Fashion to Johannesburg". Asia Africa Intelligence Wire.
- ^ Staff (April 19, 2007). "Chris Sweeney: Managing executive, Absa Card". Moneyweb Power Hour (Moneyweb Holdings Limited). http://www.moneyweb.co.za/mw/view/mw/en/page55?oid=87183&sn=Detail. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
- ^ South African Press Association (March 29, 2004). "Private Doctors to Assist With HIV/AIDS Treatment". Asia Africa Intelligence Wire.
- ^ Staff (October 25, 2007). "A celebrity chef for every culinary fancy". The Star (South Africa): p. 17.
- ^ Staff (July 14, 2006). "Exploitation dressed up as entrepreneurship". The Star (South Africa): p. 2.
- ^ Church of Scientology (March 26, 2008). "Church nationwide expansion gains significant expression: Church of Scientology Nets Famous Joburg Landmark - Kyalami Castle". Press Release (PR-inside.com). Archived from the original on 2008-06-20. http://web.archive.org/web/20080620084050/http://www.pr-inside.com/church-of-scientology-nets-famous-joburg-r504472.htm. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
- ^ Staff (March 16, 2008). "Church of Scientology buys Kyalami Castle". The Weekend Argus (South Africa): p. 12.
- ^ a b scopical.com.au (March 26, 2008). "Scientology adds African castle to property list". Scopical (Scopical Pty Ltd). http://www.scopical.com.au/articles/News/3755/Scientology-adds-African-castle-to-property-list. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
[edit] External links
- The Castle Kyalami, main website
- The Bastion at The Castle restaurant, website of restaurant based in the castle
