castle of Ribaucourt

Castle of Ribaucourt (Dutch: Kasteel de Ribaucourt) is a manor residence in Perk, a village that forms part of the municipality of Steenokkerzeel in the Flemish Brabant province of Belgium. Located at Kasteelhoekstraat 1, the estate is surrounded by an extensive landscaped park and ranks among the most recognizable landmarks in this part of the region.

Where does the castle's name come from?

The name comes from the Christyn de Ribaucourt family, who acquired the estate in 1833. Earlier owners gave the property different names, but the site's history stretches back far beyond the nineteenth century.

How old is this place?

The origins of the estate can be traced to the twelfth century, when a motte-type stronghold stood on the site — an artificial mound topped with a fortified wooden tower and surrounded by a moat. As early as 1192, the property was already recorded as belonging to the van Schoten family. Over the following centuries the site changed hands repeatedly and was rebuilt several times, gradually taking on the palatial form recognizable today, although many structural elements still date back to the fifteenth century.

Who lived at or visited the castle?

The estate holds an episode of genuinely international significance: on 9 May 1746, King Louis XV of France stayed here, only days after his triumphant entry into Brussels during a military campaign in the Austrian Netherlands. This event is still cited today as one of the most notable moments in the residence's history, underlining its standing in eighteenth-century Europe.

The Christyn de Ribaucourt family, from which the current name derives, took possession of the estate in 1833 through Count Prosper Christyn de Ribaucourt, a senator for the Dendermonde district. It was this family that shaped the estate into the form and character it is recognized by today.

How large is the castle and its surrounding grounds?

The residence itself contains more than 200 rooms, making it one of the more extensive buildings of its kind in the region. The structure was repeatedly rebuilt and adapted to the changing needs of successive inhabitants, so its architecture combines elements from several different periods.

The surrounding park covers an enormous area — roughly 90 hectares of pastures, forests, open grounds, and ponds. The estate also includes a nature and bird reserve, which means the Ribaucourt domain today serves not only a historical purpose but also an ecological one.

Can the castle be visited?

The domain is known locally as the Domein van Ribaucourt or Domein van Perk and serves as a point of reference for residents of the Steenokkerzeel municipality. Its extensive park, with its network of ponds and woodland, draws visitors looking for a quiet, nature-filled setting right alongside the historic architecture.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the Castle of Ribaucourt located? In Perk, part of the municipality of Steenokkerzeel, in the province of Flemish Brabant, at Kasteelhoekstraat 1.

How old is the building? The earliest traces of a fortified structure on the site date back to the twelfth century, though the current palatial form largely dates from the fifteenth century and later rebuilding phases.

Where does the name Ribaucourt come from? From the Christyn de Ribaucourt family, who acquired the estate in 1833.

Which notable guest visited the site? King Louis XV of France stayed here on 9 May 1746 during his campaign in the Austrian Netherlands.

How large is the park surrounding the castle? The grounds cover roughly 90 hectares, including meadows, forests, ponds, and a nature and bird reserve.