Martinsburg/Berkeley County, WV

Charles Town/Jefferson County, WV

Winchester/Frederick County

Clarke County

Front Royal/Warren County

Shenandoah County

Luray/Page County

Harrisonburg/Rockingham County

Staunton/Augusta County

Highland County

Lexington, Buena Vista/Rockbridge

Bath County

Alleghany County

Fincastle/Botetourt County

Roanoke, Salem/Roanoke County

Fincastle / Botetourt County, Virginia

In Botetourt County, you can retrace the steps of Lewis and Clark as they set out on their remarkable journey across the American continent. In 1803, the famous explorers departed from the frontier town of Fincastle.

A small, hilly, colonial county seat village, Fincastle is a great place to go to slow down a bit. This quaint village of about 325 or so quiet souls has been the seat of Botetourt for the last 236 years. It is an original Virginia county that once stretched all the way to the Mississippi River!

Combining the talents of German craftsmen and Scots-Irish merchants and lawyers, early residents built a town of attractive houses and dignified small public buildings. Descendants of many of these early families still live in the area today.

Visit the Botetourt County Museum, stand on Court House Square and spy an old (1809) Western-style hotel, a Jeffersonian courthouse (1818), and a Victorian-style jail (1897). Then using the Walking Tour brochure, found just outside the courthouse, go and discover beautiful wrought iron fences and gates, flagstone walks, hand water pumps, and the early gravestones in the churchyards. The five churches date back to 1795 and are active today. A guided Walking tour is available through Historic Fincastle, Inc.

On the Botetourt Wine Trail, you will find symmetrical rows of hillside vineyards that frame the landscape with a changing palette of textures and colors. These wineries welcome visitors for tours, tastings, and hospitality, and offer a variety of special events on many weekends throughout the year.

Finally, be sure not to miss visiting the Town of Buchanan. From its earliest development, it was the principal crossing of the James River via the “Great Valley Road.” A self-guided or guided tour is available through the town’s office.

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