Alsatians of Texas

In 1842, Empresario Henry Castro brought his first colonists to Texas to settle land west of the Medina River. Most of the immigrants were from the Rhine River area of Europe. Many claimed the province of Alsace, on the border of France and Germany, as their homeland. The Alsatian colonists brought with them their combined French and German heritage, which has left a distinctive mark on this area of the state. In 1844, Castro laid out a townsite, which the settlers chose to name Castroville. It became the center of Alsatian culture in Texas. The houses, European in style, are primarily single-story dwellings of cut limestone, mortared with adobe, and white-washed. Over the years, farming has been the major occupation of people in the area, as it was in Alsace. The Alsatian immigrants and their descendants have made a distinct impression on area politics, holiday customs, cusine, and religion. Winemaking, using grapes grown along the Medina River, is another early tradition that has continued over the years. The history of Alsatians in Texas is a reflection of ethnic and cultural diversity in the state's rich heritage. (1985)

Alsatians of Texas is a historical marker in Castroville, Medina County, dedicated in 1985. It is one of 56 historical markers documented in Medina County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 112 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 29.3579, -98.8789 near Castroville. The nearest cataloged historic site is St. Louis Catholic Church (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include St. Louis Day, Dubuis House, and St. Louis Church.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5325000131. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.