Heading South

HEADING SOUTH

After falling in love with Brenham, the next phase of this outward spiral from home now turned towards the south. Here, we found more fascinating places with histories even deeper into the origins of fledgeling Texas. After wending our way through the hidden gems of south-central Texas, we eventually came to another well-loved location that we've visited frequently - the small city of Victoria.

The following are some scenes from more of the pretty and interesting places we found as we moved southwest and south from Brenham towards Victoria.

Stone built courthouse in LaGrange, Texas.

Fayette County Courthouse (1891) - click to enlarge

Stained Glass panel in the Texas Czech Heritage Center in LaGrange.

Czech Heritage Glass Panel - click to enlarge

These images are from LaGrange, a town immortalised by Texan rockers ZZ Top. It is nestled within a bend of the Colorado River, sometimes to its great cost in times of high flood.

LaGrange is the County Seat of Fayette County and boasts this spectacular Courthouse dating back to 1891. The marvelous stained glass panel is from the Texas Czech Hertiage and Cultural Center.

Hand-painted altar in a St. Cyril and Methodius Church, Dubina, Texas.

St. Cyril & Methodius Church - click to enlarge

When traveling to this part of Texas, it would be very remiss not to mention the incredible Painted Churches built and decorated by the German and Czech settlers that moved here in the 19th century.

This beautifully hand-painted church is St Cyril and Methodius in Dubina, south of LaGrange and close to the town of Weimar.

A stone-built 19th century courthouse in Hallettsville, Texas.

Lavaca County Courthouse - click to enlarge

Continuing south on Route 77, and crossing Interstate 10, you'll come to the charming town of Hallettsville.

Hallettsville is the County Seat of Lavaca County and this fine brown and grey sandstone structure is the County Courthouse completed in 1899. It was the fifth structure to be Courthouse. The first log structure burned to the ground.

Trees and a heron at the edge of a lake.

Cuero Municpal Park Lake - click to enlarge

Red and grey stone-built courthouse in Cuero, Texas.

DeWitt County Courthouse - click to enlarge

Continuing south on 77 leads to Victoria, but a slight dogleg along the Alternate route will take us to the town of Cuero, which is the Seat of DeWitt County.

Cuero too, has a Romanesque granite and sandstone County Courthouse built in 1896. The town also boasts a fine Municipal Park with a peaceful lake.

A water tower over buildings saying, Welcome to Brenham.

Click the Moo Moo Sign to see more

This part of our journey lands in the town of Victoria. This has been another frequent stopping place over the years, and was even a viewing point for a solar eclipse!

Victoria also deserves a page of its own, so please click on the Moo Moo Sign to continue.