International Festival Institute at Round Top
248 Jaster Road
Round Top, Texas
Built: 2007
Architect: James Dick
Show Description:
Music shaped the architecture of the International Festival Institute at Round Top. The festival concert hall is a marvel of wood craftsmanship, with hand-carved designs covering every inch of the interior. Musicians from around the world attend workshops and concerts at the 200-acre campus.
The public is welcome on the grounds. Check out the schedule to plan your visit.
Other design elements to find at Festival Hill:
Festival Hill Lyre at the top of the Concert Hall.
Edythe Bates Old Chapel In 1994, the Institute saved the former Travis Street Methodist Church in La Grange from demolition. This structure was transformed into the Gothic-inspired Chapel named in honor of Edythe Bates Old. It houses a Henry Erben Organ built in 1835/1836, the oldest American-made organ in use in Texas.
The Romanesque Stone Bridge was built in 1995. The first of many stone structures by Round Top stonemason Jack Finke.
The Mary Garden and Grotto by Jack Finke.
The Albert and Ethel Herzstein Plaza and Stone Chapel Jack Finke embellished the project with his unique rockwork. There is a hidden shell grotto, water features and plaza.
Other attractions nearby
Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory – Brenham, Texas
Take a tour of the “little creamery” in Brenham and learn all about how ice cream is made. The tour of the factory concludes with a scoop of ice cream.
Washington-on-the Brazos State Historic Site
A 40-minute drive from Round Top, Washington-on-the-Brazos is the site of the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836. Located on the Brazos River, the expansive park grounds provide a beautiful setting for picnicking, sightseeing and birdwatching. Visit The Star of the Republic Museum and Independence Hall for unique perspectives in Texas History.