Photos by Amanda Terry at Twisted Tours

Shiplap ceilings and a stone pool add to the charm of this house, which is set in a Lone Star town styled to look like France.
Price: $515,000

Location: Castroville, Texas
Red poppies, half-timbered houses, and stone churches: At first glance, the tiny hamlet of Castroville, Texas, looks more like the French countryside than a 3,000-person town just west of a major metropolitan area. Castroville was established in 1844 by the French diplomat Henri Castro and was settled by German-speaking Alsatians who built European-inspired farmhouses, shops, and taverns, all within commuting distance (30 minutes) of San Antonio. 414 Florence Street is one of Castroville?s many historic properties ? a farmhouse set among oak and pecan trees with direct access to the Medina River. The home is walking distance from downtown restaurants, a short, one-mile stroll from the wooded trails of Castroville Regional Park, and sits within the boundaries of the well-rated Medina Valley Independent School District. Specs: 3 beds, 3 baths, 2,442 square feet, 0.995 acres
Constructed in 1846, this single-story farmhouse features an elongated central kitchen and original stone and brick floors. Modifications over the decades have added hardwood floors and shiplap ceilings. Renovations in 1998 and 2015 added a back bedroom and updated kitchen, respectively. The back porch was enclosed to create a sun room, and the bathrooms have also received an upgrad...