Fairytale Towns In Europe

So many small European towns are overlooked because of the big culture-driven cities like Paris and Amsterdam. But behind all the landmarks and selfie-taking tourists, you’ll find hundreds of charming towns and villages in Europe with populations smaller than the line for the Eiffel Tower. Despite their petite size, these towns all have their own unique aspects that make them just a little more picturesque and special. These storybook towns are the stuff European dreams are made of.

The Alpine town of fewer than 3,000 residents is tucked away in a lush green valley textured with trees and wildflowers. Towering cliffs, snowy mountain peaks, flowery meadows, and some of the tallest free-flowing waterfalls in Europe surround the valley. Interestingly, it is said that J. R. R. Tolkien used Lauterbrunnen as inspiration for the fictional valley of Rivendell in The Lord of the Rings while on a hike through this small and quaint village.

Eguisheim is a mediaeval village in France’s Alsace wine region. If you close your eyes and picture the perfect French village, it probably looks exactly like Eguisheim. Located on the border of Germany next to Colmar, this town has been ranked as 'One of the Most Beautiful Villages in France' since 2003, a title it has earned through careful preservation of its incredible, historical architecture.

Like many mediaeval villages, Eguisheim is built in concentric circles around its castle (Château Saint-Léon). Ancient and original cobblestone alleys, fountains, courtyards, and 13th century mediaeval churches can all be seen at Eguisheim. While strolling along the alleys look out for certain houses whose very old inscriptions on the door lintels you can decipher.

While there are many towns that exhibit the Moorish architecture and labyrinthine streets that define the region, there’s something extra special about Ronda – namely its location. The town was built on a mountaintop in Spain’s Malaga province, set dramatically above a deep gorge (El Tajo). The views of the valley below are stunning and the three bridges that span the canyon are mind-boggling feats of engineering. El Tajo separates the city’s 15th-century new town from its old town which dates to Moorish rule. As one of the oldest towns in Spain, it not only has a dramatic history, but is also known to be the birthplace of bullfighting.

Dinant, perched on the narrow banks of the Meuse River in Belgium's Wallonia region, might as well have come out of a Disney movie. A centuries-old fortified citadel sits on an outcrop above the town, accessible by just a few steps to climb – 408 steps to be exact. The Citadel is now a museum with stunning panoramic views, and below is the 13th Collegiate Church of Notre Dame (Our Lady). The bridges and streets of Dinant are littered with saxophone statues and tributes to Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone.

The Netherlands’ very own Venice. Like many Dutch towns and cities, Giethoorn is also known for its boat-filled waterways, footpaths, and bicycle trails. What makes this town so special then, you ask? Well Giethoorn is a completely car-free village. The only way to get around town is by bike, boat, or foot, which can make grocery shopping and moving quite interesting. In Giethoorn you can explore the centuries-old thatched-roof houses and wooden arch bridges – more than 180 of them – by boat, or by ice skating on the canals during the frozen winter months.

Just off of Norway’s northwestern coast is Lofoten, an archipelago filled with beauty: think majestic fjords, white frozen beaches dotted with surfers, and colourful fishing villages. Reine is one such village, located on the island of Moskenesøya. This fishing town brims with red and white fishermen's huts dotting the shoreline surrounded by mountain peaks of granite and icy waters. Words cannot do justice to the breathtaking scenery of Reine.

Located on a hilltop, 1,524 metres above sea level, this small village of less than 100 residents is the highest village in the Apennine Mountain Range. The famed lentils of Castelluccio bloom every year from late May to July, together with red poppies, violets, cornflowers, daisies, daffodils, and other wild flowers, creating a stunning natural display known as 'La Fiorita.' Even when the flowers are not in bloom, the region surrounding Castelluccio is dotted with mediaeval villages, castles and abbeys, farms, and cultivated fields, making it a hiker's dream.

Sadly, while the beauty of the landscape wasn’t affected, Castelluccio was badly damaged by the 2016 earthquake that struck central Italy. While some historic and artistic works had been preserved between the first temblor, which occurred in August, and the second and third ones, which occurred in October, several historic landmarks, such as the bell tower and the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, were destroyed.

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