New Braunfels, German heritage city in Texas, United States
New Braunfels is a settlement in Texas spreading across Comal County and Guadalupe County, sitting around 630 feet above sea level (192 meters). The Comal River runs through town, where residential areas with German influence and recreation facilities can be found.
Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels founded the settlement in 1845 as part of a project by the Mainzer Adelsverein to organize German immigration to Texas. Over the following decades, farming and crafts helped it grow into a regional center with its own character.
The name honors Braunfels in Hesse, and many street signs and business names still carry German words. Several bakeries and restaurants downtown serve traditional pastries and dishes prepared from old recipes that visitors can try.
Landa Park by the river offers access to swimming areas, walking paths, and picnic spots that see more visitors during warmer months. The Gruene area sits a bit away from downtown and is best reached by car or short walks from the center.
In the Gruene area stands an old dance hall from the late 1800s where concerts and dances still take place regularly today. The water tower next to the former general store is one of the oldest surviving structures of its kind in the region.
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