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.

[citation needed] Jan Smuts was born in Bovenplaatz, near Riebeek West, on May 24, 1870.

[citation needed] 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.

[citation needed] The town also serves as a satellite, a residential settlement for Paarl, Malmesbury and even the Metropole area.

"[citation needed] In 2009 Riebeek Kasteel was chosen one of the three most beautiful towns of the Western Cape by the newspaper "Rapport".