About Robben Island
Robben Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Table Bay, approximately 9 km off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa. It is most famous for its 500-year history as a place of banishment and imprisonment, notably housing Nelson Mandela for 18 of his 27 years of incarceration. Today, it serves as a "living museum" managed by the Robben Island Museum (RIM). Early Penal Colony: Used by the Dutch and British as a prison from the 17th century. Medical Infirmary: From 1846 to 1931, it was used to isolate leprosy patients and those deemed "insane" or chronically ill. Military Base: During World War II, it served as a training and defence station for Table Bay.
Town
Cape Town
Province
Western Cape
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