Day Trips

Festival Hill in Round Top looks more like it is centuries old than approaching its fourth decade. The home of the Round Top Festival Institute, the retreat is a place where architecture, gardening, art, and music come together in a 200-acre celebration of life.

Since concert pianist James Dick established the institute in 1971, the performance space has grown from 6 acres with an abandoned school building to more than 20 buildings. Most of the structures are rescued homes moved to the site, while others are the work of local craftsmen who have mastered the arts of dry-stack rock walls and intricate designs with wood.

The centerpiece of the grounds is the 1,100-seat concert hall that construction started on in 1981. A peek inside the hall reveals a work of art reminiscent of old cathedrals. One of the docents said the acoustics are phenomenal.

In comparison, the Edythe Bates Old Chapel looks tiny but is no less beautiful than the grand concert hall. It has the rich, dark wood walls and stained-glass windows of a house of worship. The former Methodist church was originally built in 1883, and it took four months in 1994 to move it from La Grange to Round Top. Rehearsals, lectures, and recitals are hosted in the restored sanctuary.

Hidden beneath the Old Chapel is the Herzstein Memorial Plaza. Styled after European courtyards, the plaza is popular for weddings and receptions. Waterfalls cascading over the rock walls look hundreds of years old and add to the sensory smorgasbord. The plaza is a wonderful place for a large catered event or an intimate picnic in one of the shaded grottoes.

Of all the beautiful areas on the grounds, the Roman Ruins are perhaps the most striking. The ruins are two walls and a tower built with an ancient method using no mortar between the rough-cut stone blocks. The plants that the walls protect turn the stone garden into a living space.

Scattered about the grounds are 13 gardens containing many rare, medicinal, and fruit-bearing plants. Many of the flower beds were curated by Madalene Hill, the Texan grande dame of herbs.

The best way to tour the grounds is to arrive early for one of the many performances held at the institute. The programs range from classical music and chorus recitals to a guitar festival and an annual herb festival.

The second best way to explore the architecture and gardens is to take a guided tour. If you call ahead, they might let you join a group tour or provide a private tour if there is a docent available. All of the docents are passionate about the Festival Institute. Or you can take a self-guided tour, if there are no events already scheduled.

Festival Hill and the Festival Institute are on the eastern edge of Round Top off FM 237. For more information, call 979/249-3129 or go to www.festivalhill.org.

1,004th in a series. Collect them all. Day Trips, Vol. 2, a book of "Day Trips" 101-200, is available for $8.95, plus $3.05 for shipping, handling, and tax. Mail to: Day Trips, PO Box 33284, South Austin, TX 78704.