Riebeek Valley Information and Accommodation

The Riebeek Valley

Tranquil, breathtakingly beautiful, spectacular scenery, excellent food, quiet streets, traditional and yet not short on sophistication... these are some of the words used by visitors to describe the Riebeek Valley.

In this incredibly hectic world of ours, there's nothing more rewarding than discovering an absolute gem of a place on your doorstep. Predominantly a busy agricultural area, this Valley is progressive in a very careful way and fiercely defended by the patriotic locals who want to keep the Riebeek Valley safe from unplanned, overwhelming development that will change the very character of the Valley.

The friendly residents of the Riebeek Valley warmly welcome visitors to experience what they get to enjoy every day - excellent restaurants, eateries and pubs, luxurious guest houses and accommodation, conference centres, wedding venues, quaint shops with unique products produced in the Valley, Wine Farms that have earned their reputation amongst the best in South Africa and abroad, and Olive producers proud to capture the competitive local and overseas market.

 

Riebeek Kasteel and Riebeek West are so closely bound by history, and yet both have a different appeal, while Hermon, situated on a railway siding in the south-east corner of the Valley, offers it's own s inviting attractions.

From the establishment of the first outpost in 1661, named "Riebeeck's Casteel" after the then Governor of the Cape Colony, to this day and age, this Valley has taken pride in doing things right ... the farmers who settled here and the generations that have preceded them, (many of the farms are still owned by family members of the original settlers), cared for the land, produced a wealth of products and had the foresight to keep the Valley agriculturally based, yet allowing for expansion into the 21st Century without damaging the environment.

Riebeek Kasteel's appeal lies in the way the town and its residents fit together – from farm and restaurant owners to artists and creative people who offer a smorgasbord of outstanding products. The town is dotted with small residential areas in amongst the vineyards and olive groves and many of the larger tourist establishments are situated either on the main road through the town or close to the "shopping centre" known as Short Street, a not-to-be-missed experience! Opposite Short Street, the Royal Hotel, dating back to 1895, stands proudly with its impressive façade built in 1929. Residents often restore older houses in the town to their former glory and there is a mixture of old and new which creates the charm and character of this beautiful town.

Riebeek West's Oude Kerk was the reason that this town was established only 5 km's down the road from Riebeek Kasteel – much to the surprise of the residents of Riebeek Kasteel, and since then, the two towns have co-existed just a stone’s throw from each other. The positive result is that residents and visitors get to enjoy the best of both worlds. Riebeek West, built mostly against the slopes of Kasteelberg, with spectacular views over the Valley, has a slightly slower pace and is more residentially based than Riebeek Kasteel, although the handful of shops and restaurants still offer five-star service.

We invite you to come to the Valley to enjoy the outdoor activities on offer such as horse riding, biking, canoeing, bird watching, fishing, hiking and, at the same time, find that peace and tranquility so needed to restore our energy and enthusiasm for life.

Written by Cynthia Morton