Ammannsville News

Painted churches are Texas gems Beaumont Enterprise Copyright 2012 Beaumont Enterprise.

Driving back to Taylor from Port Aransas last November, my wife, Jody, and I decided to detour through Fayette County and check out its renowned painted churches, four elaborately decorated, historic Catholic churches that reflect the cultures of 19th-Century Czech and German immigrants.

Narrow roads are partly paved, partly dirt and, in places, barely wide enough for two cars.

This past weekend I stepped back in time. I toured the Painted Churches in South Central Texas near Schulenburg.

Schulenburg in German means "school town," but for me it's always been "old school" in the best sense.