Union Buildings

The Union Buildings stand on Meintjieskop hill on Government Avenue in Arcadia, Pretoria, Gauteng province, South Africa, and serve as the official seat of the national government and the offices of the President. Designed by the architect Herbert Baker and completed in 1913, the sandstone complex has two wings linked by a semicircular colonnade, said to symbolise the union of the former British colonies and Boer republics. Visitors are not usually admitted to the offices, but the terraced gardens and the grounds are open to the public during daytime hours. The main draw is the bronze statue of Nelson Mandela, about nine metres tall, which stands with arms outstretched in front of the amphitheatre. It commemorates his inauguration as president on the site in 1994. The gardens descend in formal terraces with lawns, flowerbeds, and memorials, including a memorial to those who died in the First World War and other monuments. From the upper terraces, the view runs down over central Pretoria's jacaranda-lined streets, which bloom purple in October. A visit takes about one to two hours for walking the terraces, taking photographs and reading the memorial plaques. The best photographs are from the lower gardens looking up toward the colonnade, and from the top terrace looking over the city. Mornings are quieter and cooler, while weekends see local families and tour groups. Security is present at the entrance, and bags may be checked. Photography of the buildings and statue is generally permitted, though photographing security personnel is discouraged. Public events, protests and state occasions occasionally close access, so it is worth checking ahead. Gautrain to Pretoria Station followed by Uber or Bolt is the usual way to arrive.