From the Alps to the
Mediterranean, these frozen-in-time European villages will make you
appreciate the beauty of taking it slow. Reaching some of these European
beauties requires extra effort, yet the rewards are dazzling. Your eyes
will thank you.
Hallstatt, Austria
The storybook town of Hallstatt in
central Austria enjoys a gorgeous setting on the bank of the Hallstätter
See, between the pristine lake and a lush mountain that rises
dramatically from the water’s edge. A history of salt mining dating back
thousands of years has translated into enduring prosperity for the
town, which is most evident in the beautiful square ringed with
ivy-covered buildings.
Manarola, Italy
Manarola is a small town, a frazione of
the comune (municipality) of Riomaggiore, in the province of La Spezia,
Liguria, northern Italy. It is the second smallest of the famous Cinque
Terre towns frequented by tourists.
Bibury, England
The hilly Cotswold region is a
designated “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty” in southwestern England,
and one of its loveliest villages is Bibury, where verdant meadows abut
ancient stone cottages with steep pitched roofs. The River Coln, which
bisects the village, teems with trout, but the most scenic area is
Arlington Row, a lane of sepia-hued cottages built in the 17th century
to house weavers from the nearby Arlington Mill.
Colmar, France
French and German influences commingle
in this well-preserved Alsatian village, where local bakeries sell both
croissants and kugelhopf, and restaurants specialize in foie gras and
sauerkraut (or choucroute). A range of architectural styles, from German
Gothic to French Neo-Baroque, can be spotted in the old town, which was
spared destruction during World War II—thanks in part to the historical
beauty of its cobblestoned lanes, quiet canals, and half-timbered
houses.
Reine, Norway
North of the Arctic Circle, Reine is a
pretty fishing village in the Lofoten archipelago, an area of starkly
beautiful Nordic wilderness, where sapphire bays punctuate fjords and
mountains. Many of the bright red fishermen’s cabins (called rorbuer)
have been converted into comfortable cottages for visitors that offer
direct access to the Norwegian Sea. Settle in for a front-row view of
the night sky and its mesmerizing entertainment, from summer’s midnight
sun to winter’s northern lights.
Pučiśća, Croatia
The buses and cruises that stop along
Croatia’s sunny Dalmatian coast unleash tourists eager to experience the
charms of Dubrovnik and the ancient island village of Hvar. Fewer
visitors find their way to Pučiśća on the island of Brač. The reward is a
seaside village with outsize appeal: white-stone villas with terracotta
roofs, narrow cobblestoned alleys, and a stone-paved square. Bask in
its relative solitude and the many prime spots for swimming in the
turquoise Adriatic Sea.
Telč, Czech Republic
Residents of Telč, a small town in south
Moravia, were once quite competitive about the beauty of their homes,
as is evident today on the elongated main square, where one building is
lovelier than the next. The Baroque- and Renaissance-style façades,
featuring high gables painted in pale pastels, now support small shops
and cafés. A grand Renaissance-era château and large fish-filled ponds
surround the square.
Cong, Ireland
Encircled by streams, the picturesque
village of Cong straddles the border between County Mayo and Galway—a
region of lakes and vibrantly green meadows dotted with grazing sheep.
Cong counts numerous stone bridges, the ruins of a medieval abbey, the
occasional thatched-roof cottage, and Ashford Castle, a grand Victorian
estate that has been converted into a romantic luxury hotel.
Gruyères, Switzerland
Gruyères is famous for its namesake
cheese, whose mild, nutty flavor melts so well in fondue. But few are
familiar with the town itself, a medieval hamlet in the upper valley of
the Saane River in western Switzerland. A wide, stone-paved street leads
up to the magnificent 13th-century Gruyères Castle, with its imposing
fortifications and expansive views of the surrounding Alpine foothills.
Bled, Slovenia
This small Alpine town in northwestern
Slovenia rings the shore of Lake Bled, whose glacial blue waters
surround a tiny island and its small Baroque church. After a two-hour
stroll around the lake, hike to the medieval hilltop castle for
panoramic views or recharge with a slice of the local specialty:
kremšnita, a sugar-topped pastry filled with cream and custard that has
been served for decades at the Hotel Park.
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