Painted Churches Tours | Schulenburg Chamber of Commerce

World Famous Painted Churches

The Painted Churches are located in the communities of Dubina, High Hill, Moravia, St. John, and Ammannsville. They appear unassuming as you approach them, but as you enter the front doors prepare to have your breath taken away by the incredible beauty found inside.

To book a Tour of the Painted Churches or for more information, please call (979) 743-4514. The churches are all active and do conduct services on Saturdays and Sundays. You may tour the churches Monday-Saturday 9:00-4:00pm, but please be respectful of any events or services that you may encounter. When doing a self-guided tour, you will

be able to view 3 of the 5 Painted Churches in this area.

Beginning Oct. 1, 2024, tour deposit is $50. Individual cost of the tour is listed below.

Tour Fees: 10 People or less

1-2 Churches $18.00 $40.00 Guide Fee

3-5 Churches $25.00 $60.00 Guide Fee

Tour Fees: 11 People or more

1-2 Churches $18.00 $50.00 Guide Fee

3-5 Churches $25.00 $70.00 Guide Fee

General Information

Tour of the Painted Churches

1. General Information: Guided tours of the Schulenburg area are offered year-round, Monday through Saturday, except for certain holidays and Catholic holy days. The Painted Churches on the tour are active churches, therefore, tours are not available on Sundays. The tour typically covers 4 churches in the area surrounding Schulenburg, however, by special request we can add another church to the tour.

There is no minimum or maximum number of visitors per tour. The Chamber strives to accommodate groups of all sizes, whether 1 or 100. For all tours, but especially larger groups, we do ask that you call the Chamber, (979) 743-4514, to book your tour.

2. Reservation/Tour Fees: Select your desired date well in advance and call us to book a tour. A deposit of $50.00 at the time of the booking will reserve your date and guide. This deposit will then be applied to the Guide’s Fee unless otherwise requested.

For Up to 19 people, the Tour Fee will be:

$18.00 per person for 4 Churches ($50.00 Guide Fee)

$20.00 per person for 5 churches ($60 Guide Fee).

For groups of 20 or more, the Tour Fee will be:

$17.00 per person for 4 Churches ($60 Guide Fee)

$19.00 per person for 5 Churches ($70.00 Guide Fee).

A portion of the Tour Fees are given to the churches for their upkeep.

If your tour is customized, such as a Photography Tour, the Guide Fee may be more due to the time involved.

3. Tour Guides: A local tour guide will be assigned to your group and will meet you at the Chamber of Commerce office, 618 N. Main St., Schulenburg, TX 78956, at your scheduled time. He or she will have the option to accompany you in your vehicle or, take their own vehicle. As with any member of the Service industry, a Gratuity above their normal fee is appreciated.

4. Tour Times: Tours are scheduled according to the beginning time that works best for your group; however, we recommend for the 4-church tour starting between 9:15 am and 11:00 am; and for the 5 church tour, no later than 10:30 am. These times will ensure that you have plenty of time to enjoy the churches before they close for the day.

5. Lunch: Tours generally make a stop for lunch. The Chamber staff can assist you with selecting a restaurant and with making reservations. A list of local restaurants is available on the Chamber website under “Dining.”

6. Cancellations: If you need to cancel, you are permitted to reschedule and transfer your deposit to another day (up to one year from the original scheduled date). The cancellation must be made within 24 hours of your scheduled time and day or the deposit will be forfeited. Deposits can also be refunded at your request when cancelling.

General Information

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I arrange a tour of the Painted Churches?

When you have a date in mind for a tour, call the Chamber office at least 2 weeks in advance to see if the date is available. The staff will help you with all the details. Please do not send a reservation form and deposit without talking with the Chamber staff first.

2. Why do I have to pay a $50.00 deposit?

The deposit guarantees your reservation with the Chamber and it assures that you will show up for your tour. A guide is not assigned to your group until the deposit is paid. The deposit will become the guides fee when you arrive. If for some reason you do not show up for your tour and do not call to cancel it at least the day before, the deposit will be forfeited.

3. Should I give the guide a gratuity at the end of the tour?

The guides are doing a service much like anyone in the service industry. If you feel that they have exceeded your expectations, a gratuity would be much appreciated. The amount is up to each individual.

4. Is there a bus that we all ride on or do I have to drive my own car?

Transportation is provided by our visitors, and the tour guide will ride in your vehicle with you if there is room. The guide can drive their vehicle, if needed, but cannot transport tour members.

5. Is there a minimum number of people for a guided tour?

The Chamber is happy to accommodate groups of any size, whether it is 1 or 100.

6. If I just have a few people, can you combine my group with another one?

The Chamber strives to accommodate as many groups as possible, but we don’t always have enough docents available on a given day. We also try to limit the guided tours to no more than six per day. We will only combine two groups when it is an emergency. We want each group to feel that it is their special event, not something they have to share with strangers. If we can’t provide a guided tour for you on the date you request, please consider another date or take the self-guided tour.

7. May I visit the churches on my own without a guide?

If you have a small group of no more than 6 people, you may visit the churches on your own. The churches are normally available from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm, Mondays thru Saturdays, with some exceptions. Occasionally, there are weddings, funerals, or special Masses at some of the churches, therefore, it’s a good idea to call the Chamber ahead of your visit to be sure the churches are available. When touring on your own, you can

visit 3 of the 5 churches in this area.

9.Do the churches get any of the money that the Chamber makes from tours?

The Chamber gives a portion of the money from the tours to the churches.

10. Are there any special rules we need to follow while visiting the churches?

There are several rules of church etiquette that must be followed:

Please remember to close all doors behind you; you are welcome inside but we prefer the birds and wildlife stay outdoors.
No food, drinks, chewing gum, tobacco, or pets are allowed.
You may sit down in the pews, but please do not go into the choir loft or in the altar area.
You may not touch the statues, sculptures, or paintings.
Please do not take the prayer books as these are used at each Mass by the congregations.
These churches are still active today and do have services, prayer times, weddings, and funerals. Please respect the congregations by remaining outside if an event is in progress, and be mindful of those who may be coming in to worship.

The Schulenburg Chamber of Commerce is not responsible for accidents or injuries. Be especially mindful of the pews in the church at Dubina because of slight protrusions at the bottom of each pew.

All churches are handicap accessible.