, and that includes the castles. That’s right—the Lone Star State is home to an outsized crop of genuine castles, from a sprawling Bavarian fortress based on plans made by a 19th-century king to Chip and Joanna Gaines’s latest fixer-upper.

Castles might not be your first thought when you picture Texas architecture, but you can find the state speckled with these historic buildings. Whether you’re looking for a wedding venue, a one-of-a-kind Airbnb space, or even your next home, Texas has the castle for you.

Here to give you a tour of Texas’s most impressive castles is homeowners and

car insurance

super app

Jerry

—your expert assistant for travel tips and insurance savings!

RECOMMENDED

Compare auto insurance policies

No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms

ZIP Code

Find insurance savings

Castle Falkenstein

Image from Falkenstein Castle's official Facebook page.

Address: 7400 Park Road 4, South Burnet, TX 78611

Built in: 1990s

What is the story of Castle Falkenstein?

The story of Castle Falkenstein begins, not in the hills of Central Texas, but in the Bavarian Alps of southern Germany. In 1995, Terry and Kim Young visited Neuschwanstein Castle, the unfinished project of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, and fell in love.

While touring the castle’s half-completed halls, the couple noticed some blueprints for a different castle—and learned that before his death, Ludwig had planned to build a second castle in the Alps, to be called Falkenstein.

“Sweetheart,” Terry asked Kim on the flight home to Burnet, “what would you think about building our own Castle Falkenstein in Texas?”

And the rest is history. Today, Castle Falkenstein stands proud on 113 acres of Texas Hill Country, with 14,000 square feet of exquisite architecture, museum-quality artwork and historic artifacts, and a 40,000-gallon koi pond on the castle grounds.

How to visit Castle Falkenstein

Castle Falkenstein is Terry and Kim Young’s home, but it’s available to rent for

weddings and private events

. If you want to be a king or queen for a night, you can also book the entire castle on

Airbnb

—just be prepared to pay a king’s ransom!

MORE:

Haunted Texas road trip

Newman’s Castle

Address: 504 E Main Street, Bellville, Texas 77418

Built in: 1998-2006

What is the story of Newman’s Castle?

As a young man, Mike Newman toured Europe and fell in love with medieval architecture. When he returned to Texas to open a bakery in downtown Bellville, Mike kept his dream alive—and eventually saved up enough money to buy 20 acres of land in the country and lay the foundation for a 3,800 square foot castle, complete with a moat, a working drawbridge, and a catapult.

How to visit Newman’s Castle

Newman’s Castle

offers tours six days a week, always starting at 10:30 am from Newman’s Bakery in downtown Bellville. From there, you’ll get directions to the castle, located about five miles out in the countryside.

Be sure to call ahead to 979-865-9804 to confirm your dates and let the castle staff know how many lunches to prepare!

Pro Tip If you visit Newman’s Castle, be sure to watch out for gators in the moat!

MORE:

Austin to New Orleans road trip

Cottonland Castle

Image from the Texas Collection, Baylor University.

Address: 3300 Austin Avenue, Waco, Texas 76710

Built in: 1890

What is the story of Cottonland Castle?

Stone contractor

John Tennant

broke ground on Cottonland Castle in 1890, but his finances soon ran dry. After changing hands more than once, the castle was finally completed by Civil War veteran Alfred Abeel in the 1910s. But the castle continued bouncing around the Waco real estate market for decades—until 2019, when HGTV stars Chip and Joanna Gaines purchased Cottonland as the ultimate fixer-upper.

How to visit Cottonland Castle

Right now, Cottonland isn’t open to visitors—but that could change in the future as Chip and Joanna work their magic! For now, you can read about the castle’s restoration journey on the

Magnolia

website, and view the building from outside by strolling down Austin Avenue.

Parsons Castle

Address: 199 Private Road 1820 Road, Clifton, Texas 76634

Built in: 2017

What is the story of Parsons Castle?

Stuart and Rebecca Parsons spent an entire decade building this 11,500 square foot castle on the banks of Lake Whitney. Built as a “party palace” for its Vegas-loving owners, the castle features 10 guest bedrooms and 14 full baths in addition to a private third-floor “penthouse.” Oh, and don’t forget the full drawbridge and the heart-shaped moat!

How to visit Parsons Castle

Parsons Castle, also known as

Bosque Resort

, is available as a venue space for weddings and overnight stays. But this Texas castle offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: it’s actually

on the real estate market

! For the low price of $6.5 million, you could become the real-life owner of a castle!

The Pythian Home

Image from Texas Pythian Home, Inc. official Facebook page.

Address: 1825 E Bankhead Dr, Weatherford, TX 76086

Built in: 1909

What is the story of Pythian Home?

The charitable fraternal organization Knights of Pythias acquired 300 acres of land outside Weatherford, Texas in the early 1900s and decided to build an orphanage there. But not just any orphanage—the completed Knights of Pythias Widows & Orphans Home is a literal castle, with towers and a vast orchard.

How to visit the Pythian Home

Although “the Castle that Love Built” still operates as the Phythian Home, a care facility for kids aged 3 to 14 licensed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, you can visit the castle for

special events

like garage sales and fun runs. The Pythian Home also occasionally rents out its stately auditorium for

private events

, but you’ll have to call ahead to see if they’re available.

290 Wine Castle

Address: 101 Durango, Johnson City, TX 78636

Built in: 2018

What is the story of 290 Wine Castle?

Mike and Monique Chase built the 290 Wine Castle at Chateau de Chase to bring love, life, and wine to the Hill Country of Central Texas. Surrounded by newly planted vineyards, the castle aims to take its place among the world’s greatest wine destinations.

How to visit the 290 Wine Castle

The castle’s

dungeon winery

welcomes both walk-ins and reservations seven days a week. Members can book the Rooftop Experience in one of three private turret rooms, and for just $39 a person you can schedule a Dungeon Chocolate & Wine Pairing Experience.

Pro Tip If you plan to visit the winery on the weekend, it’s a good idea to make a reservation ahead of time to secure your spot in the dungeon!

MORE:

Car Loan in Texas 2022

How to get the best car insurance in Texas

If you’re planning a road trip to one of these majestic sites, you’ll need to arm yourself with

a solid car insurance policy.

No matter what kind of insurance you need, find the lowest rates available in Texas with help from

Jerry

, the #1 rated insurance app and the pocket-sized broker you need on your side! Just enter your information and Jerry will find you customized quotes from 50+ partners among the nation’s top insurance providers.

If you’re looking for Texas-sized insurance savings, you’re in the right place: Jerry users save an average of $887 a year on car insurance.

“I tried
Jerry
for kicks after being frustrated with my current insurance company who I’ve been loyal to with little to show for it. Within half an hour, they handled canceling my last policy, and had me set up with my new policy. I’m saving almost $1,000 a year now with a better policy than before!” — Impressed in Texas

RECOMMENDED

Thousands of customers saved on average $887/year on their car insurance with Jerry

This app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍

Gabriella R.

Find insurance savings

4.7/5 Rating on App Store

Are you overpaying for car insurance?

Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.

Try Jerry