This Tiny Texas Town Is An Exact Replica Of A Charming French Village
By Katie Lawrence|Published March 08, 2019
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Katie Lawrence
Author
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and began writing for OnlyInYourState in 2015.
Today, Katie writes, edits, and performs several other tasks for OnlyInYourState and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on with a hot cup of coffee, practicing yoga, baking, or exploring the beautiful Lone Star State (in particular, the vast and mystical West Texas desert).
Texas has plenty of towns named after famous European cities, but the similarity usually ends there. Castroville, a small community in the Hill Country, is modeled almost exactly after its Franciscan namesake. See for yourself:
Known as the "Little Alsace of Texas," Castroville bears an uncanny resemblance to its namesake. Rolling green pastures, wagons, and charming farmhouses take visitors on a trip to the French countryside without ever leaving Texas.
This is the Steinbach Haus, which was actually built in France sometime in the early 1600s. After being dismantled and shipped to Castroville, Alsatian students actually traveled here to put it back together.
Medieval architecture and furnishings offer a glimpse into what life was like in the Old World. You'll see a bedroom, dining area, and living space, all formerly inhabited by a real Franciscan family.
Doubling as the city's visitor center, the house attracts thousands of tourists each year. It's part of Castroville's self-guided historic walking tour, which features several buildings dating back hundreds of years.
Wildflower season is about to be fully underway, and poppies grow like weeds in this area of the Hill Country. Have you ever seen such a picture-perfect shot?