Bethlehem South Africa
Bethlehem in South Africa is the largest commercial, industrial and educational
centre in the eastern
Free State and by tradition the northern terminus of the ‘mountain route’.
The original settlers found that wheat flourished in the valley and hence the
town was named Bethlehem (house of bread).
The development of Bethlehem was given a boost when it was connected by rail
to Bloemfontein,
Harrismith and
Johannesburg.
Approximately 8 kms from town there is a cairn of rocks very significant to
the Sotho people of Lesotho.
On their way to work at the Witwatersrand gold mines, the workers would drop
a stone on the pile to ask their ancestors to protect them from accidents in
the mines. On the way home across the border to Lesotho they would once again
drop a stone on the pile to thank their ancestors for a safe journey.
Accommodation in Bethlehem, South Africa
Bethlehem Links
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