Ribaucourt castle was built originally in the 12th century, but it was just a fortitied wooden tower. The lords of Perk expanded the castle and it was in possession of several South Brabant noble families. During the French occupation in 1809 the French officer Pieter Bounder of Melsbroek bought the castle. He sold the castle in 1833 to Count Prosper Christyn de Ribaucourt, senator of Dendermonde. The current Count Daniël de Ribaucourt is still Lord of Perk.
The castle is considered as one of the most beautiful of the Brussels area. It counts more than 200 rooms and was modernized by it owners throughout the centuries. The current castle largely dates back to the 17th, 18 and 19th century. The park is 90ha and consists of meadows, forest and ponds. It is a real nature and bird sanctuary.
The castle is private domain but you can view it from the public road and on rare locations there are walks organized in the park.
References:The Jacques Cartier Manor House is the only existing property wich belonged to Cartier, the discoverer of Canada, in 1534. It’s a rare example of a great 16th century explorer’s home. Jacques Cartier opened up the North American continent to the French via the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. The manor house has been restored and furnished to illustrate both the everyday life and the travels of its famous owner. From the kitchen with its red clay floor, to the explorer’s bedroom, this museum has lost none of its period charm.