Twenty miles from downtown San Antonio and nestled in the Medina Valley sits Castroville, more a village feel than a city. Castroville was officially settled in 1844 by Henri Castro, a French diplomat; born of Portuguese-Jewish descent, and was one of the most important Empresarios in Texas History, led a group of immigrants recruited primarily from the Alsace region of France/Germany. Castroville still retains the character and the fabric built by its founding families and adapted by families who made this community home for more than 175 years. This private residence has a long and interesting history in early Texas. Known as The Hotel Tarde built-in 1852 by Victor and Clarissa Tarde, natives of Calais, France. Built with limestone, cypress oak, and stucco, The Tarde Hotel exudes a warm and cozy French provincial decorating style as was a reflection of the homes in Provence in the South of France in the 17th and 18th century. "The Hotel Tarde is primarily French Provincial, as were most of the houses built in Castroville at that time. Such similarity explains that a family of rock masons, by the name of Halbardier, was brought in with the colony by Henri Castro. They might be justly called the architects on all of the stonework beginning in Castroville and extending to Fredericksburg. However, farther north of Castroville the houses lose the French characteristics and are succeeded by Teutonic solidity and plainness." "Built of limestone, cypress, oak, and stucco, The Tarde House has eight rooms, two halls, a porch two stories in height across the front, and a small rear porch." "This information was secured from Louis Innken of Castroville, TX" - Signed by the Bartlett Cocke, District Officer, Historic American Building Survey, December 8, 1936. In his book, "A Journey Through Texas" Fredick Law Olmstead wrote of his arrival at Castroville in 1853: "Upon the banks of the Medina River stands Castroville, a village containing a colony of Alsatians, who proudly call themselves Germans, but who speak French or a mixture of French and German." He continued, "How delighted and astonished many a traveler must have been, on arriving from the plains at this first village, to find not only his dreams of white bread, sweetmeats and potatoes realized, but napkins, silver forks, and radishes, French servants, French neatness, French furniture, delicious French beds, and the Courrier des Etat Unis" (a French-language newspaper published by French emigrants in New York City). Many famous clients stayed at The Hotel Tarde, including Robert E. Lee and his wife Mary Anna Randolph Custis, Ronald S. MacKenzie, John Bell Hood, Edward Ord, and Abner Doubleday and they were just a few. The Hotel Tarde boasts a vast dining room that seats 18 or more guests, currently six bedrooms, a spacious kitchen, two and a half bathrooms, with central air and heat, a large utility room, and a gas and electric powered kitchen designed to entertain visitors. My favorite room is the pioneer servant quarters and kitchen, which has been converted into an amazing living room that flows through the modern kitchen into the rooms downstairs and then up a craftsman built staircase to the rest of the warm dwelling. The place is ideal for family celebrations, parties with friends, special occasions, and a chance to experience the best that Castroville, "The Little Alsace of Texas", has to offer.
This property is off market, which means it's not currently listed for sale or rent on Zillow. This may be different from what's available on other websites or public sources.
