While Europe has embraced modernity and has often been an innovator of it, it has also retained its traditions.
That includes towns and villages that sometimes seem like something from a fairy tale. If you love the charm of the Old Country, put some of these on your must-see list!
Tellaro, Italy
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A tiny harbor and sinuous roads across clifftops have kept at bay the hordes of tourists that have overrun so many other Italian coastal towns. You’ll love the historic buildings that seem precariously perched on the cliffs.
Bibury, England
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Located among the hills and meadows of the Cotswold region, Bibury features medieval steep-roofed stone cottages. The River Coln runs through the middle of town and has a thriving trout population that helps fill the dinner menus of anglers and local restaurants.
Hallstatt, Austria
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Set between a pristine lake known as the Hallstatter See and a dramatic mountain rising above it, Hallstatt feels like something from a storybook. For thousands of years, salt mining has been a central economic activity here, and the industry’s prosperity has helped keep the town clean and beautiful.
Folegandros, Greece
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Nearby Santorini draws huge numbers of tourists, leaving this island in the Cyclades both authentic and much quieter. Like Santorini, Folegandros has whitewashed buildings, slate streets, Greek Orthodox churches, and beautiful beaches, but without all the crowds.
Assisi, Italy
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This is the town that was home to St. Francis, founder of the Catholic Church’s Franciscan Order. In addition to all the rustic buildings, the town has a beautiful cathedral that you can admire whether you’re Catholic or not.
Dinan, France
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Until a few centuries ago, the Brittany region where you’ll find Dinan was a kingdom of its own. City walls here are almost a thousand years old, and the streets are lined with houses and other buildings built from stone and lumber long ago. There’s also an historic castle to visit.
Edam, The Netherlands
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A thousand years ago, this town’s biggest source of commerce was shipbuilding. As such, you’ll see numerous canals as well as all the beautiful architecture, so a journey there feels like going back in time. And yes, the popular cheese is named for this town.
Glendalough, Ireland
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This ancient town is actually mostly ruins, so it’s not much of a place for dining and lodging. It’s fantastic to visit, however, and some of the amazing ruins include churches and a cemetery with deeply weathered gravestones.
Reine, Norway
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Since this fishing village in the Lofoten Islands is north of the Arctic Circle, you’ll want to pack warm clothes, but it’s totally worth it. Fjords and mountains are all around, and you can stay in bright-red cabins once used by fishermen and which are now cozy guest cottages. In winter, you can marvel at the Northern Lights, and in summer, you have the midnight sun.
Telc, Czech Republic
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This small town went through a period of intense competition among residents about the beautification of their homes, and the result is one of the prettiest small towns in Europe. Architecture is in the Baroque and Renaissance styles, fish-filled ponds surround the town center, and a huge chateau dating back to the Renaissance dominates one end of the town square.
Albarracin, Spain
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Central Aragon is where you’ll find this medieval-era fortified town. Narrow lanes and alleys lead to castles and towers, and you can enjoy fantastic views from the city walls as you walk to a castle built by the Moors.
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