The vast and extraordinary taal or language monument in Paarl is set on a hillside and towers over the surrounding landscape, including looming down on Cape Town in the far distance. Its peaks and towers soar, and there are resounding hidden inner areas. Everything here has symbolic shape and form, and this is painstakingly explained in a pedestrian fashion on written information boards. Set into one of the pathways are the words ‘Dit is ons erns’ [literally ‘this is our seriousness’, but meaning this is the sign of our presence or possession]. The monument was opened in 1975. Close by is an amphitheatre that can hold around 4000 people.
View Paarl Taal Monument gallery here
