Fredericksburg is the capital of Texas's bed-and-breakfast business. Within Gillespie County, hundreds of bed-and-breakfast properties invite guests to enjoy a pampered getaway at prices far lower than those in hotel suites.

Gastehaus or Guest House

This community is best known as the home of the gästehaus or guest house, a bed-and-breakfast where visitors are given the privacy of their own abode. Unlike traditional bed-and-breakfasts where the owners or managers reside on the premises, guest houses are usually managed by a reservation service.

After check in with the service, guests are given directions and the keys. Often a breakfast, which may range from simple Continental to a spread of sausage wraps and homemade pastries, awaits in the refrigerator.

Couples make up a large percentage of the city's overnight guests. "Fredericksburg has really gotten into the romance business," explains Donna Mittel, proprietor of Gästehaus Schmidt, a reservation service with more than 100 area properties. "Couples are getting away from the kids from the weekend. And we're in a real history oriented society right now. The interest here in historical properties is unreal."

The romance of a couple's retreat starts with the name of Das Kleine Nest (the little nest) and continues in every detail of this tiny two story home. Built over a century ago by a hopeful fiance whose wedding never took place, today this bed and breakfast has its own chapel, located behind the home. Whether you come here as a honeymooner or just to enjoy a weekend of romance, you'll find Das Kleine Nest a Lilliputian hideaway, with a sleeping loft that overlooks the living and dining area. Rock walls and wood floors as well as antique furnishings recall the home's early days.

One of the most romantically decorated properties is Annie's Cabin, one of five guest houses in the Austin Street Retreat. The term cabin belies the structure's hedonistic style, complete with smoky rose walls that cast a sinful glow on a king-sized bed outlined with a Cupid's arrow headboard. A whirlpool tub invites couples to share a bubbly repast beneath a skylight.
Nearby, Kristen's Cabin lures guests into a romantic mood with a king-sized bed overlooking a majestic fireplace. A bath boasts a two person whirlpool atop a limestone throne. Over the years, this room has served as a stable, a dining, room, and, in 1885, even a jail. Bars on the windows still recall its role as a cell, today one that only takes two prisoners at a time.

Kristen's Cabin, located just a block from the shopping of Main Street, also gives guests the feeling of quiet seclusion with a private courtyard. Pull up a chair on the limestone terrace and enjoy the sound of a three-tiered fountain beneath shady pecans.

Not all guest houses are lavishly styled in the manner of Austin Street Retreat — others are aimed at visitors looking for a simpler country getaway. The Weber Farmhouse combines two periods of Fredericksburg's development into one property. This building began as a simple one-room log cabin in the town's earliest days. In 1926, a country Victorian-style farmhouse was constructed around the cabin, completely hiding the original structure. Recently, the Delforge family, owners of the popular Delforge Place next door (one of only a handful of traditional bed-and-breakfast homes in town) restored the farmhouse. They stripped down the walls to the original logs and set about giving both the upstairs and downstairs suites a historic theme. The lower rooms recall the days of the stagecoach; the upper guest quarters feature the days of the railroad.

For some travelers, though, romance comes from real seclusion — away from the flurry of town and the temptation of shopping. One remote retreat is the Schmidt Barn, located one and a half miles from town. Originally a barn, this 1860s structure is today a cozy guest house filled with antiques, a wood-burning stove, and the atmosphere of early Texas. A Mexican tile tub invites guests to take a leisurely soak. The guest house is located next to residence of the owners, descendants of some of Fredericksburg's first settlers.

East of town, several guest homes are also available for those seeking country comfort. Settlers' Crossing, five miles from town, is a collection of four historic structures located on a 35-acre ranch. Populated by wandering burros and sheep, the ranch is large enough that each guest house has plenty of privacy, whether for an evening stroll or just an afternoon sipping tea on the front porch.

The Settlers' Crossing guest houses are a peek back into Fredericksburg's past. The Pioneer Homestead, constructed in the 1850s by one of Fredericksburg's first families, is filled with period touches from antique textiles to pine tables to a blue bedroom ceiling surrounded by intricate stencil.

Nearby, the Baag Farm House, built in the 1920s as a wedding gift, has a full kitchen for guests who don't even want to venture from the property for meals. The Indiana House, a log cabin reconstructed on site, is decorated in period antiques, from the double wedding quilt to a camel back sofa.

But, of the Settlers' Crossing properties, perhaps the most romantic is the Von Heinrich Home. This two-story Pennsylvania Dutch fachwerk home was constructed in 1787. Its early days are recalled with folk art, antique rugs, and a Shaker table. Couples enjoy a whirlpool tub built for two.

Just a little over an hour from Austin, you'll find one of the state's most romantic getaway. Even if you're not a fan of traditional bed and breakfasts, in these guest houses you'll find yourself right at home.

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