After we left Palmetto State Park, we headed east to Praha. Praha is a small Czech community and home of St. Mary’s Church – Praha (or Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church) and one of the painted churches found in Texas. This was one of several churches we visited while working on the Texas Church Project a few years ago.

St. Mary’s has some really nice detail work on the ceiling, as well as some beautiful carved stations.
Note the detail at the bottom of this photograph, and you can see the image of two other churches that I would guess the original members attended before they left their homes to come to Texas. The church was built in 1895, not old by European standards or even early American history, but still it is such a thrill to visit.

After we left Praha, we headed back west to Luling, best known for Bar-B-Que and the annual Watermelon Thump. Like many of the small towns in the area (and most of Texas) they have several events to draw tourist into town. They take watermelon serious here, just check out their water tower.

I hope you have enjoyed the read and photographs, traveling to small towns in Texas accounts for some of my most relaxing trips. Texas is a BIG place and I have many more miles and many more small towns that I hope to share. No matter what part of the world you live in, get out and go visit those places you have not been to and please share your photographs. It is a great way to relax, visit with the family and see something new. Oh, and don’t forget to sample the local food…always worth the time to stop.

Safe travels and enjoy.