14 Fairytale Towns and Villages in Europe That Should Be on Everyone’s List
Europe is bursting at the seams with historic towns and villages that are so magical they belong in a fairytale. Here are 14 of the most enchanting.
Scattered across Europe are towns and villages with histories dating back hundreds or even thousands of years. These magical places have hilltop castles, medieval churches, market squares lined with half-timbered homes, and storied stone bridges spanning picturesque waterways. Narrow cobbled streets weave between the attractions, transporting you back in time with every step.
They’re all spectacular. However, among Europe’s long list of beautiful destinations are a handful so enchanting they seem plucked from the pages of a fairytale. Keep reading to learn about 14 that defy belief with their charm, character, and aesthetic appeal.
1. Bled, Slovenia
Bled is the perfect place to begin any exposé of European fairytale destinations. The town is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, but it is best known for its pristine eponymous lake.
At the center of Lake Bled is a stunning medieval church (The Assumption of Maria Church) built on a small island. As if that wasn’t picturesque enough, the mighty Bled Castle sits on a vertiginous cliff above the water. Surrounded by verdant forest and with mountains in the background, the scene is so exquisite it boggles the mind.
2. Hallstatt, Austria
Austria is no stranger to charming towns, but few are as popular as Hallstatt. Once a remote and inaccessible village on the western shore of Lake Hallstatt, it’s become a tourist destination that attracts one million visitors every year.
Although so much tourism in such a tiny place causes a stir among locals, you can’t blame people for going. The giant peaks towering over it, the 18th-century church on its lakefront, and a maze of cobbled streets make Hallstatt a joy to explore.
3. Eguisheim, France
Eguisheim is regularly voted one of France’s most beautiful locations. Located in Alsace, a Germanic region in the east of the country, it’s a medieval village built in concentric circles around Château de Sain-Léon-Pfalz – a 13th-century French castle.
Expect cobbled streets, colorful half-timbered houses with pointed roofs, flowers lining every windowsill, and cute local shops and restaurants.
4. Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Once a frontier town of the Ottoman Empire, Mostar is now one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most popular spots. With mountains on all sides, the Neretva River running through it, and a UNESCO-listed old town full of quaint stone buildings, Mostar’s incredibly photogenic.
The main attraction is Stari Most, or Old Bridge. This iconic stone bridge is a reconstruction of the original, which stood here for centuries until it was destroyed in the 1990s conflict. Nevertheless, it remains an impressive, evocative, and eye-catching site worth seeing.
5. Carcassonne, France
Carcassonne is an epic fortified town on a hilltop in southern France. With its unbelievable double-walled stone ramparts and endless watchtowers, it’s the epitome of a fairytale destination.
Few other places on Earth transport you back in time quite so successfully! Although its current visage is quintessentially medieval, the site dates back over 2,000 years.
6. Rastoke, Croatia
This tranquil village looks and feels like a movie set. Gentle streams flow through town, feeding waterfalls that cascade from grassy ledges alongside stone buildings nestled among trees.
There isn’t much to do in Rastoke, but it doesn’t matter. It’s enough to simply explore on foot, grab a coffee at a riverside café, visit the many waterfalls, and enjoy the enchanting atmosphere.
7. Bibury, England
Bibury is a charming village in the Cotswolds that’s over 1,000 years old. With its church, riverfront location, small stone houses, and manicured lawns, it feels quintessentially British!
Chief among its fairytale attractions is a line of cute little cottages next to the River Coln. Known as Arlington Row, they started out as a monastic wool store in the 14th century. A few hundred years later, they became homes for weavers who worked at the local mill. Fast forward to today, and they’re one of the area’s main tourist attractions.
8. Quedlinburg, Germany
Located in the foothills of the Harz Mountains in northern-central Germany, this flourishing trading town has sat on the Bode River for over a millennium. Quedlinburg is beloved for its UNESCO-listed Old Town, which boasts hundreds of well-preserved timber-framed buildings from the Middle Ages.
Other highlights include Quedlinburg Abbey, Rathaus (a 14th-century Gothic building covered in ivy), and the iconic Lindenbein Tower.
9. Gruyères, Switzerland
Gruyères is a picture-perfect 12th-century Swiss town surrounded by rolling green hills and rugged peaks. Like most other fairytale destinations in Europe, it feels distinctly medieval. Expect cobblestone streets lined with age-old buildings and a 13th-century castle (now a museum) on a hill above the Saane river.
Gruyères is also famous for its eponymous cheese. If you visit, don’t miss the chance to sample some at a restaurant – and/or do a tour of La Maison du Gruyère to learn about the cheesemaking process.
10. Giethoorn, Netherlands
Drive an hour and a half northeast of Amsterdam, and you’ll find a small village nicknamed the “Venice of the Netherlands.” You’ll have to park the car and continue on foot when you arrive, though. Just like Italy’s Venice, Giethoorn has no roads.
Instead, this magical place comprises a unique network of footpaths, narrow canals, and bridges connecting tiny islands with traditional Dutch houses on them. Instead of driveways, residents have moorings. They move around by boat, going about their unique daily lives alongside the countless tourists who visit each year.
11. Cochem, Germany
This exquisite small town in western Germany packs an outsized punch in terms of medieval appeal. Located on the scenic Moselle River, Cochem has a charming market square, half-timbered homes, and the striking Cochem Castle, which sits on a hilltop overlooking the area. A lovely tree-lined promenade adds to its allure – as does the river itself, which can transport you to wineries and other castles in the vicinity.
12. Sintra, Portugal
If your idea of a fairytale destination involves striking hilltop palaces with glorious views, Sintra ticks all the right boxes. Famed British poet Lord Byron once called it a “glorious Eden,” which is a fitting description for a historic town surrounded by a verdant, hill-strewn landscape.
Its most famous attraction is the colorful Pena Palace. With its hilltop location and brightly painted walls, this eye-catching National Monument feels like something from a Disney movie.
13. Český Krumlov, Czech Republic
Český Krumlov is a gorgeous medieval town tucked away in southern Czech Republic. It’s another fairytale destination with centuries-old buildings so well-preserved everything feels stuck in a time warp.
The architecture in Český Krumlov’s historic center is so impressive UNESCO made it a World Heritage Site in 1992. Expect cobbled streets, a rare Baroque theater, and a noteworthy castle, all strategically located in a nook of the beautiful Vltava River.
14. Dinant, Belgium
Dinant is a picture-perfect little town nestled between the banks of the river Meuse and a mighty clifftop fortress. The Citadel of Dinant was built in the Middle Ages and has played a key role in the town’s history. It’s now a museum offering unbeatable views of the area. Back down by the river, the 13th-century Collegiate Church of Notre Dame is another striking building that dominates Dinant’s townscape.
While you’re here, consider taking the 15-minute drive to Vêves Castle. This stunning 15th-century fortress has six cylindrical towers that look like somewhere Rapunzel might drop her hair down from at any moment.
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