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It is said that one could come to Lejweleputswa for a hundred holidays and have a totally different experience each time.  The proud history & heritage of the region will take you on a journey to a variety of landscapes, richly endowed with diverse cultures & people. Situated in the heartland of South Africa’s agricultural belt, mine shafts now guard the horizon where antelope once roamed.  To keep in balance with nature, the region is blessed with a game reserve & two nature reserves - Willem Pretorius Game Reserve, & the Sandveld & Soetdoring Nature Reserves. Apart from its gold, this region encompasses several districts forming the heart of the county’s maize triangle, stretching from horizon to horizon.
 Escape to the unforgettable experience of descending into the depths of Mother Earth in a local gold mine, or explore the countryside from a steam train. Enjoy a taste of the rich wildlife of Africa at a local game reserve with the comforts of a modern, vibrant city close at hand. Must-Sees in the Goldfields include:  Goldfields Casino Aventura Aldam Holiday Resort & Willem Pretorius Game Reserve Historical borehole on farm Aandenk near Allanridge NAMPO Harvest Farm near Bothaville Golden Arts & Crafts Scramble at Hennenman & Virginia Aco tractor factory near Hoopstad Voortrekker Monument at Winburg Gold Museum in the Welkom Library Underground mine tours Phakisa Racetrack  Folk Dancing Monument at Boshof Goldfields Wine Cellar in Theunissen Winnie Mandela House in Majwemasoeu in Brandfort. Lejweleputswa, meaning "Gray rock", was previously known as the Free State Goldfields due to the vast gold deposits found beneath its surface.  The history of gold prospecting & mining in the Free State goes back to the late 19th century when gold was discovered & mined near Vredefort, In April 1948, a borehole sunk in search for water on the farm St Helena struck lava, not sub-terranean water. It eventuated into the establishing of Welkom as one of the few cities in the world to have been planned to completion before so much as a brick was laid.  The planning of Welkom was undertaken by Sir Ernest Oppenheimer, the then Anglo American Chairman, & has resulted in the residential, mining & industrial areas of the city being harmoniously blended to form what has become known as the 'Garden City.' Mine shafts sprang up like strange flowers, their workforce establishing one of South Africa's most advanced infrastructures.  A million people found their home on the Free State Goldfields with Welkom being the principal city. Today the Free State Goldfields are rivaled only by those of the West Rand (Gauteng) in production & reserves. In Welkom as well as in nearby Virginia & Theunissen, one can take a mine tour of some of the deepest mines in the world.  A highly notable feature lately added to the Goldfields scene, is the ultra-modern multi-million Phakisa Racetrack for motorcycles & racing cars situated between Welkom & Odendaalsrus, venue for many an international event & drawing considerable global media coverage.
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