Riebeek-Kasteel
Geocache
Jan van Riebeeck arrives in Table
Bay in April 1652
Riebeek-Kasteel is one of
the oldest towns in South Africa, situated at 80 km from
Cape Town in The Riebeek Valley together with its sister town
Riebeek West. During 1661 Commander Jan van Riebeeck initiated an
inland discovery expedition under the leadership of Pieter
Cruythoff. They set off in the direction of Paardeberg and on 3
February 1661 they ascended a lonely mountain and came upon the
fertile vista of the Riebeek Valley.
They named it Riebeek Kasteel, in
honour of the Commander. In the 19th century both Jan Smuts and
Daniel Malan were born in the outskirts later both becoming prime
ministers of the country.
Subsequently farmers established
themselves in the valley and during 1900 the town was laid out in
and around its existing church and its neighbor The Royal Hotel,
the oldest hotel of South Africa.
The town eventually developed and
today it houses more or less 2700 residents including some of South
Africa’s most famous painters attracted by the picturesque
surroundings of the valley and is Riebeek Kasteel especially
popular for that esthetical beauty and rural atmosphere. The town
also serves as a satellite, a residential settlement for Paarl,
Malmesbury and even the Metropole area. Often Riebeek Kasteel is
referred as “the best kept secret of the Western Cape”
and "Franschhoek 15 years ago"
In 2009 Riebeek Kasteel was chosen
one of the three most beautiful towns of the Western Cape by the
newspaper "Rapport". The other two finalists were Stellenbosch and
Clanwilliam.
Text from
Wikipedia.
Information about where to eat,
sleep and shop can be found here www.riebeekvalley.info
Note - Vertically challenged people
will need assistance
.