Being that Texas is such a huge state, there are many things to keep residents entertained.
There are also plenty of places that would be great to visit as a vacation destination.
That being said, a lot of those same people may also be considering a trip to Europe to visit some older civilizations.
If that sounds like you, hold your horses for a moment, we may have the compromise you didn’t know you were looking for.
It’s possible to get the feel of a different place without having to hop on a jet.
There are over 20 castles in Texas.
Here, we’re going to explore the top 10 in an effort to help you plan a future excursion.
10 Most Beautiful Castles in Texas
1. Falkenstein Castle
The story of how this castle came about is amazing, especially since the king who designed it died in 1887.
Fast forward over 100 years.
While visiting Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, Terry and Kim Young came across plans for a castle that Ludwig was planning to build next.
The name of the castle was Falkenstein.
After doing research and chasing down more info about the plans for its construction, they came back to the Hill Country of Texas.
The lovers of Ludwig’s architectural prowess picked the perfect hill in Burnet and began construction.
Today, it’s a popular wedding destination as well as an Airbnb.
People from all over the state come here to experience their very own fairy tales.
In a castle like this, it’s not hard to envision what it must have felt like to have been king and queen during Ludwig II’s time.
2. Newman’s Castle
Imagine going into a bakery to get some flaky confections.
While there, you notice that the bakery’s owner also sells tickets for tours of his castle.
Well, if you’re visiting Bellville and are at Newman’s Bakery, then this daydream would indeed be a reality.
Mike Newman loved visiting Europe in his early 20s, as many of us would.
Unlike most excited travelers, Newman decided to recreate a piece of that joy back home.
After 30 years of running a successful bakery business, he decided to bring his love of European castles to Texas.
During the tour of the castle, you may get to experience what it was like to maintain a medieval fortress.
Back during the time of kings, knights, and jousting.
However, you won’t get to experience any of the latter.
3. Greystone Castle
During medieval times, a popular pastime was the hunt.
This is where knights, lords, and even kings would rub shoulders and socialize all in the name of eating.
The group would go out and find meat for the evening feast at the castle.
That meal would include stories of past hunts.
Fast forward to Texas in the 1980s.
A local businessman had a dream to build an outdoor sportsman’s paradise with a castle at its center.
Construction began at a site where there was no shortage of wondrous beauty.
After partially finishing some of the castles and adding lakes, roads, and a kennel, it was sold to investors who added lodges, a dining room, and a pavilion.
Today, Castle Greystone’s owners manage 6,000 acres and carry on the tradition of the hunt that so many castles had done before.
4. Bishop’s Palace
Also known as Gresham’s Castle, the Bishop’s Palace is a stone Victorian-style house located in Galveston, Texas.
Its hardy stone construction greatly contributed to its survival from the hurricane of 1900.
It was built by architect Nicholas J. Clayton for politician Walter Gresham and his family, including his wife Josephine and their nine children.
In the 1920s, the Roman Catholic Diocese purchased the home for Bishop Christopher E. Byrne.
He moved in shortly after.
By the 1960s, the diocese opened up tours to the public and used the proceeds to help fund UT’s medical school, which operated from the basement.
Today it is owned by the Galveston Historical Foundation.
5. Cottonland Castle
Located in Waco, Texas, Cottonland Castle has a long history with many people involved.
The story started in 1890 when a local stone contractor was looking to build himself a new home using leftover stone from his latest construction job.
After Tennant struggled financially, he sold the project to cotton broker Ripley Hanrick.
This transaction came with an agreement that he could continue to do the stonework on the property.
However, financial problems continued and the castle was abandoned in 1908.
In 1913, Civil War veteran Capt. Alfred Abeel purchased the property and hired architect Roy E. Lane.
The finished product was a 3-story castle, modeled after a similar castle located in Germany on the Rhine River.
Over the years, various owners and users struggled with the upkeep of the property.
Cottonland Castle was purchased in 2019 and renovated by Chip and Joanna Gaines over the following three years.
6. Trube Castle
Trube Castle, or Trube House, is another one of Galveston’s castle houses.
Hailing originally from Denmark, it was built by John Clement Trube.
This beautiful Danish-style castle was built in 1890 and members of the Trube family still live there today.
Galveston is known for having withstood several natural disasters, including the hurricane of 1900.
This is the same natural disaster that flooded much of the town and destroyed many homes.
However, these castle homes withstood the storms because of their stone construction.
Trube castle was given its historical marker in 1965 by the Texas Historical Commission.
7. Pemberton Castle
Not many of us would look at a water tower and think that it’s better suited as a castle.
However, that is exactly how Pemberton Castle came into existence.
In 1890, this structure was built and functioned as the previously mentioned water tower, until the middle of the 1920s.
It was then that Samuel Fisher converted it into a small castle to be used by the Pemberton Heights subdivision sales office.
In 1937, the professor of architecture at the University of Texas acquired the house for himself and his wife Sadie.
He went on to do a lot of work on the castle’s facades and parts of the structure.
8. Capt. Charles Schreiner Mansion
If you’ve ever wondered what the house of a Texas Ranger who descended from French nobility would look like, you should visit Capt. Charles Schreiner Mansion.
Gustav Schreiner, Charles’ father, was born in a castle in Alsace.
Soon after the Schreiner family moved to San Antonio in 1852, Charles became a wealthy rancher and philanthropist.
In 1879, Schreiner hired architect Alfred Giles to design the mansion.
The blueprints combined Romanesque Revival and Chateau-esque styles.
Today, the beautiful castle is used as the Hill Country Museum and is run by Schreiner University.
9. Old Red Museum
No matter if you’re a Texan or not, you may recognize this next castle.
Old Red Museum is by Dealey Plaza and represents one of our country’s darker moments when JFK was assassinated.
The museum wasn’t directly involved, but might be mistaken for existing in the background.
The Old Red Museum, or the Old Red Courthouse, served as a courthouse from 1892 until it was replaced in 1966.
After sitting dormant for a number of years, the once-courthouse was renovated into the current Old Red Museum.
Today, it welcomes visitors from all over the country and is a widely recognized facade of downtown Dallas.
10. 290 Wine Castle
If you are a fan of expensive wine, epicurean delights, and a lover of medieval architecture and castles, then the 290 Wine Castle should be on your list.
In Johnson City lies the brainchild of Mike and Monique Chase.
The Chases had a luxurious vision.
First, they wanted to build a castle reminiscent of King Arthur’s legend.
Next, the couple was on a mission to bring both old-world European and new-world Napa Valley wines under one medieval experience.
That culminates in the 290 Wine Castle at Chateau de Chasse.
Texas Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Texas Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the largest castle in Texas?
Boasting not only the castle, but also a chapel, dungeon, courtyard, and moat, Newman’s Castle is the largest in Texas.
If you’d like to visit, head to Bellville and get your tickets at Newman’s Bakery.
Your day will begin by meeting in the shop where you will be given a sack lunch to take with you on your visit to the castle.
Who lives in Texas castles?
Actually, while there are a few private owners of castles in Texas, many are owned by the cities in which they are located.
These often serve as courthouses and museums.
Others currently serve as homes, schools, churches, and museums.
Texas castles are full of surprises.
What is the most popular castle in Texas?
Built to perfectly mimic the Bavarian style, Falkenstein Castle is the most popular castle in Texas.
You can’t get a tour, but they do rent it out for not only weddings, but it is also an Airbnb.
It is beautifully located on a hilltop in Burnet.
Also, the story of how it came into being is one of being at the right place at the right time.
It’s also one of being able to see past what is to a greater vision.
What is the oldest castle in Texas?
Having been built in the 1730s, Mission Concepcion is without a doubt the oldest castle in Texas.
Located in San Antonio, this Catholic church was constructed to be in the Spanish Colonial architectural style.
You may just get a feel for what it was like being a Spaniard in Texas during that time period.
