The most beautiful European villages and towns. The most beautiful villages in the world: cozy places to stay The most beautiful villages in the mountains

11.08.2020

We present to your attention the top 10 most picturesque villages in the world. Here we go…

Biburi, England
The English village of Biburi is located in Gloucestershire. It has been repeatedly recognized as the most beautiful and most English village in the world by various artists and poets. The cozy houses of the 17th century really seem to have descended from a fabulous illustration. The village itself is much older - the first mention of this settlement dates back to the 11th century. Despite the popularity with tourists, public transport Biburi still does not go to Biburi, and to get here you need to take a train at London Paddington Station, get to Kemble station, and then just take a taxi.

Shirakawa-go, Japan
This picturesque village is on the list World heritage UNESCO. Here you can admire the wonderful gassho style houses with triangular roofs and also the Ogimachi Castle, which is located near the village. Tourists are brought here by a regular bus.

Wengen, Switzerland
The views of this Swiss village resemble a fabulous setting at any time of the year. The indigenous population of the village numbers a little over a thousand people. But for every local resident, depending on the season, there are from 5 to 10 tourists, so it is always crowded here. The famous ski resort and the amazing Kriegsloch Cave, which is said to predict the approach of war. It is forbidden to drive ordinary cars here, so as not to spoil the purest mountain air. But at the services of tourists there are always many environmentally friendly electric vehicles.

Ezzie, France
This picturesque village stands on the shore Mediterranean Sea... For centuries, there have been ongoing wars here, and in the village itself, a variety of cultures have mixed. All this gave rise to a completely unique architectural ensemble, which, together with stunning landscapes, today attracts a lot of tourists from all over the world.

Zaanse Schans, Holland
Unlike modern Amsterdam, the village of Zaanse Schans still retains its original identity. There are also typical houses of the 17th century and famous windmills, creating a true "Dutch" landscape. They sell wonderful natural cheese, fine painted porcelain and traditional wooden shoes.

Pariangan, West Sumatra
The picturesque streets of this Minangkabau village are literally at the foot of active volcano Merapi, which has erupted almost 40 times over the past 200 years. The dangerous neighborhood makes the impression of the beautiful scenery especially strong.

Savoca, Sicily
This village with a thousand-year history is well known to fans of the book and film "The Godfather", because the events reproduced in the film were filmed here. Here you can visit the Vitelli Bar and the famous Capuchin Monastery, where the most famous crypt is located, in which over fifty bodies of the local nobility and clergy have been kept for centuries, subjected to natural mummification in the catacombs.

Cua Wan, Vietnam
The main treasure of this small fishing village is the incredible beauty of the surrounding landscapes. Small houses supported by rafts stand literally on the water in Ha Long Bay surrounded by huge cliffs. In one of these raft houses there is also a village school, and the students come to it by boat. To see all the beauties of this village, tourists also have to hire a boat.

Caleta Tortel, Chile
The small village of Caleta Tortel has the fame of the "Chilean Venice". True, there are no stone palaces and majestic bridges here, but there are many picturesque wooden houses towering on piles and connected to each other by a whole web of light suspension bridges, and sometimes just stairs. For obvious reasons, it is impossible to get around here by road.

Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia
All buildings in this Tunisian village have traditional colors: bright white walls and sky blue shutters and gates. Against the backdrop of the dazzling blue of the Gulf of Tunis, the village looks just great. Many representatives of creative professions constantly rest here, and many travel companies offer day trips here.

Quote post by valniko77 The most beautiful European villages and towns

In the countries of Europe there are many villages that, in terms of the originality of their architecture, are not inferior to the capital's sights, but incredibly picturesque nature around them is able to cause genuine delight even among experienced travelers. Here are just a few of the most picturesque villages and small towns throughout Europe.

Obidos, Portugal

This picturesque old town has long been part of the dowry of the Portuguese queens. The city has many architectural attractions, the largest of which is Obidos Castle, built in the 12th century. Obidos is also famous for its delicious chocolate (it is even called the "chocolate capital") and the traditional cherry ginjinha liqueur.

Eze village, Cote d'Azur France

This is an incredibly picturesque place resort area French Riviera. The settlement is very ancient - it was founded by the Phoenicians, and got its name in honor of the ancient Egyptian goddess Isis. Today, the oldest building in Eze is the Church of the Penitent Sinners of the White Brotherhood, which was built in 1306. Many famous people used to rest and work in this place. For example, it was in these picturesque places that Nietzsche wrote his philosophical novel Thus Spoke Zarathustra.

Hallstatt, Austria

This Austrian commune is located in a remote mountainous area and is considered one of the most beautiful places in Europe. Here are the oldest European salt mines and the oldest pipeline in the world that transports brine to Ebensee.

Pitigliano, Italy

The population of this picturesque village is only 4,000 people. A fairly large part of the local population are Jews, so the town even received the nickname Little Jerusalem. Many Etruscan crypts have survived near the city. locals used as wine cellars. In the city itself and its environs there are a lot architectural monuments the era of the middle ages.

Polperro, UK

An incredibly picturesque fishing village near Plymouth attracts so many tourists in summer that recent times tourist business became the main branch of the local economy.

Wengen, Switzerland

Wengen is an incredibly beautiful village located in the Bernese Alps. The number of tourists here is always 5 or even 10 times higher than the number of the local population. Well developed here skiing and the famous Lauberhorn Races are held every winter. In addition to skiing and the magnificent surrounding landscapes, tourists are offered a rich cultural program: organ music evenings are held in the local church, and folk and brass music concerts are organized at the station. Also in Wengen there is a famous puppet theater.

Rapperswil. Switzerland.

Rapperswill is a small Swiss town located at the foot of the Alps, not far from Lake Zürichsee. The main feature of the inconspicuous town is roses. It is all planted with whole plantations of cultivated rose hips; on its coat of arms a romantic thorn also flaunts. In summer, the town turns into a huge blooming and fragrant flower bed - tens of thousands of roses of several hundred species and varieties bloom here.

Otoire, France

Many believe that Otoire is the most beautiful village in all of France. The village has existed for more than 800 years, but most of all there are buildings dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries, which look very picturesque against the backdrop of massive cliffs that surround Otoir from all sides.

Deia, Mallorca island

The glory of this small village is not only the picturesque surroundings, but also the many famous people who lived here at different times. The English poet Robert Graves, the American writer Anais Nin, the poetess Claribel Alegria are far from full list celebrities. Today, Deia is so popular with tourists that as many as 20 restaurants are constantly operating in the village to feed all guests.

Ravello, Italy

The picturesque surroundings of Ravello have always attracted many tourists, among whom there were many celebrities. At one time, composer Edvard Grieg, Greta Garbo, Sophia Loren, Gore Vidal and many others rested here. One of the main attractions of the village is the cathedral, built in 1086. A priceless relic is kept here - a vessel with the blood of the great martyr and healer Panteleimon.

Pucisce, Croatia

Pucisce is an amazingly beautiful small town located on the island of Brac. The island itself is only 12 km wide and 40 km long. Not far from the city there are quarries where the famous white limestone is mined. Diocletian's palace was faced with this "Brac stone" in ancient times, and nowadays it is used to decorate the Washington White House. But the main occupation of the inhabitants of the island is, of course, serving the numerous tourists arriving in these picturesque places from all over the world.

Kazimierz Dolny, Poland

Kazimierz Dolny is considered one of the most beautiful Polish cities. It has attracted crowds of tourists and artists for over two hundred years, especially during the summer. Impromptu art galleries are located here on almost every street, and any of the exhibits can not only be viewed, but also bought. There are also many historical buildings in the city, and outside the city, tourists will find magnificent rural views and picturesque ruins.

Carlingford, Ireland

A little more than five hundred people live in this small village. 800 years ago, a Norman knight built a castle in these places, and the village has already grown around it. This castle is still one of the main attractions of Carlingford today.

Krupe, Belgium

The village of Krupe is located in the Wallonia Valley. Like many centuries ago, it is surrounded by a moat with water, and not far away rises impregnable castle and several picturesque grottoes. Tourists are not allowed into the castle - it is privately owned, but no one bothers to admire it from afar. And the landscapes there are really worth seeing.

Mittenwald, Germany

There is a village of Vyatskoye 38 kilometers from Yaroslavl. The village, which on October 15, 2015 became the first member of the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages of Russia! Having learned about this event, I decided to go there to see the delights of the village with my own eyes.

2. This is what one of the most beautiful villages in Russia looks like. Central square with restored mansions of the 18-19th century.

3. Hills, ravines, summer "amphitheater".

5. In some places Vyatskoe looks like this.

6. Now comes the fun part. Why, unlike most villages and villages in Russia, Vyatskoye has not been bent, but is developing. The answer, of course, lies in the money.

There is a businessman in Yaroslavl, Oleg Zharov, who, according to local residents, was looking for a place for a summer residence in the vicinity of Yaroslavl. I came to Vyatskoye, fell in love with the local beauty, and decided to take up the restoration of the village. I bought an architectural monument of the 19th century - the house of the honorary citizen of Bogorodsky, restored, the dacha is ready.

7. Zharov did not stop there, and over the past few years, more than 30 half-abandoned mansions have been restored with the money of a businessman, several museums have been opened, and a church has been restoredAscension of Christ built in 1750.

8. There are also opponents of Zharov's "policy". Say, he buys and restores mansions with only one purpose, to sell them, and thereby become richer. And it develops everything around and ennobles, only in order to build an elite cottage village... In any case, every year new jobs appear in the village, abandoned architectural monuments are being restored.

9. And Zharov also received a state prize "For his contribution to the revival and development of traditional cultural and historical values." He was invited to the Kremlin, put next to Putin and Medvedev. Where Medvedev said: "Well, maybe we'll go, Vladimir Vladimirovich, to Vyatskoye? Though the roads will be repaired for them before our arrival." .

Apparently they never got there, and part of the road from Yaroslavl to the village of Vyatskoye is toa Yamutokanava. This is where our small journey to the most beautiful village in Russia begins.

10. This is it Vyatskoye, an open-air museum of Russian rural life.The main idea of the museum is to present to tourists with their own eyes the life of a Russian village as it was several centuries ago.

11. Selu is a total of over 500 years old. AND known in the history of Russia for crafts, noisy fairs, bazaars, schismatics, "going to the people", and talented people. For example, the sculptor A.M. Opekushin - the author of the monument to A.S. Pushkin in Moscow (on Pushkin Square), Pyotr Telushkin - the founder of "Russian mountaineering", alone without insurance, repaired the wing of an angel that crowned the spire of the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg, by the poet Nekrasov, who found images of his heroes in Vyatskoye.

12. On the central square there is a restored fire station, now in a museum building.

10. The parking lot next to the depot is completely packed with tourists' cars. There are even guests with overseas rooms.

11. We park next to the tourist buses.

12. And along the Ukhtomka River, which flows through all Vyatskoye, we go to get acquainted with local life.

14. On the right bank of the river, the museum - black bathhouse.

15. One of the central streets.

16. The leaning hut.

17. Bath with a swimming pool.

18. Hard to believe, but, residential building. There are even satellite dishes hanging on the front side of the facade.

19. Almost destroyed temple.

22. The restoration work of the next mansion is carried out mainly by visitors from neighboring countries.

23. Fragment of the restored mansion.

24. The renovated house of the photographer Kokoshkin, an architectural monument of the late 19th century. Perhaps one day, the hanging wires will disappear and it will look very good.

25. One of the most beautiful buildings in the village of Vyatskoye. Inside museum of Russian entrepreneurship, or "The history of one village that wanted to become a city ...".

26. On the third floor the museum has a large exposition of household items.

27. On the second floor, the largest collection musical instruments and caskets in Europe, many of which are still active. The collection, as we were told in the museums, belongs to Zharov.

29. Organola.

30. Punched tape for organola. And here it is worth retelling what the museums told us.

In the old days, when a girl was married off, it was important what her hearing was. And if the betrothed had problems with this, then before playing to the future husband musical composition, a punched tape was inserted into the organola. The girl had only to press the pedal and imitate playing the keys. The music sounds beautiful, the groom is happy, everyone is happy.

Maybe it's just a story, but it was told convincingly.

31. The most ugly building in the village, if this booth can be called a building, we will consider the branch of the Savings Bank. By the way, speaking of Sberbank, 3 days ago we closed the mortgage! We accept congratulations. Maybe one day I'll even write what it was like to live under the yoke of Sberbank.

32. Post office of Russia.

33. Fragment of the restored architectural monument. Everything was done quite well, even the smallest stucco elements have been preserved and restored.

34. From the yard, this house looks much sadder. Perhaps it is understood that no one will step into the yard.

35. Outskirts of the village.

36. Neighboring village and country road home.

p.s. Perhaps some information about the businessman Zharov and about the village of Vyatskoye, in places, does not correspond to reality. As they say - for what he bought, for what he sold. In general, a businessman is great, he develops his native land. After all, as practice shows, most of our rich people buy villas abroad, apartments in Dubai, and dump to live over the hill.

In European countries, there are many villages that are not inferior to the capital's sights in the originality of their architecture, and the incredibly picturesque nature around them can cause genuine delight even among experienced travelers. Here are just a few of the most picturesque villages and small towns throughout Europe.

Eze village, French Riviera

This is an incredibly picturesque place in the resort area of the French Riviera. The settlement is very ancient - it was founded by the Phoenicians, and got its name in honor of the ancient Egyptian goddess Isis. Today, the oldest building in Eze is the Church of the Penitent Sinners of the White Brotherhood, which was built in 1306.

Many celebrities rested and worked in this place. For example, it was in these picturesque places that Nietzsche wrote his philosophical novel Thus Spoke Zarathustra.

Pitigliano, Italy

The population of this picturesque village is only 4,000 people. A fairly large part of the local population are Jews, so the town even received the nickname of Little Jerusalem. Near the city, there are many Etruscan crypts, which the locals use as wine cellars. In the city itself and its surroundings, there are a lot of architectural monuments of the Middle Ages.

Polperro, UK

An incredibly picturesque fishing village near Plymouth attracts so many tourists in the summer that the tourism business has recently become the main branch of the local economy.

Wengen is an incredibly beautiful village located in the Bernese Alps. The number of tourists here is always 5 or even 10 times higher than the number of the local population. Alpine skiing is well developed here, and every winter the famous Lauberhorn races are held. In addition to skiing and the magnificent surrounding landscapes, tourists are offered a rich cultural program: organ music evenings are held in the local church, and folk and brass music concerts are organized at the station. Also in Wengen there is a famous puppet theater.

This picturesque old town has long been part of the dowry of the Portuguese queens. The city has many architectural landmarks, the largest of which is Obidos Castle, built in the 12th century. Obidos is also famous for its delicious chocolate (it is even called the "chocolate capital") and the traditional cherry ginjinha liqueur.

The glory of this small village is not only the picturesque surroundings, but also many famous people who lived here at different times. English poet Robert Graves, American writer Anais Nin, poet Claribel Alegria - this is not a complete list of celebrities.

Today, Deia is so popular with tourists that as many as 20 restaurants are constantly operating in the village to feed all guests.

One of the main attractions of the village is the cathedral, built in 1086. It contains a priceless relic - a vessel with the blood of the great martyr and healer Panteleimon.

There are also many historical buildings in the city, and outside the city, tourists will find magnificent rural views and picturesque ruins.

The village of Mittenwald stands against the backdrop of stunning Bavarian landscapes. The village houses themselves also look like they came from a fairy tale illustration. Here you can walk for hours, admiring the surroundings and going into cozy shops selling cute souvenirs, and small restaurants offering original German cuisine.

The village of Krupe is located in the Wallonia Valley. Like many centuries ago, it is surrounded by a moat with water, and not far away there is an impregnable castle and several picturesque grottoes. Tourists are not allowed into the castle - it is privately owned, but no one bothers to admire it from afar. And the landscapes there are really worth seeing.

Fjölbaka is an amazingly beautiful fishing village. Today, the tourist flow here is not too intense yet, but every year it becomes more powerful. The shooting of the detective series "The Murders in Fjölbaka" also contributes to the rise in popularity.

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Each of us has our own ideas about what a village and a village rest are. However, such settlements around the world are very different, and at the same time they have something in common: clean air, a small number of inhabitants and a small cozy space.

site made a selection of 17 unusual and amazing villages that will win your heart and become the highlight of any trip.

1. Hallstatt, Austria

(Hallstatt, Austria)

Bright, like toy houses, nestled in several tiers on the mountainside, an azure lake with floating swans, the Alps, which are reflected in the mirror-like water surface - all this gives the impression of a fairy tale revived.

The population of Hallstatt does not exceed 1,000 people. And the location is unique: on a narrow strip of land between the majestic Alpine mountains and Lake Hallstattersee.

2. Simian-la-Rotonde, Provence, France

(Simiane-La-Rotonde Village in Provence, France)

Azure sky lavender fields, alpine mountains, Mediterranean cuisine and the charm of Provence - what else do you need to relax your soul? One of the attractions of this place is the Château des Agoult, built in the 12th century. The 12-sided pyramidal rotunda in the castle gave the name to the town. Summer festivals of antique music are held there.

3. Rainbow Village, Taichung, Taiwan

(Rainbow Village, Taichung, Taiwan)

On one of the outskirts of the city of Taichung, there was a military settlement, which over time almost all of its inhabitants left. The authorities decided to demolish the houses, and the 86-year-old war veteran, in order to save his yard from demolition, painted the walls of the houses with various characters and patterns. Today it is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Taiwan.

4. Marsaxlokk, Malta

(Marsaxlokk, Malta)

Marsaxlokk is a colorful fishing village in Malta. There are no storms in the harbor, so the houses of yellow sandstone are located close to the water, leaving only a strip for the roadway and a pedestrian embankment. The population of Marsaxlokk is only about 3,000 people. Most men are engaged in fishing in the same way as their fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers did.

5. Floating islands of Uros, Bolivia and Peru

(Floating Islands of Lake Titicac, Bolivia, Perú)

On the border of Peru and Bolivia, on Lake Titicaca, the Uru tribe lives, which have settled down on 42 floating islands on the lake. These islands themselves build uru from reed. From the same material, residents make boats on which they go to fish. Despite the remoteness from civilization, solar panels can be seen on the reed islands, which allow locals to watch TV.

6. Alberobello, Italy

(Alberobello, Italia)

Alberobello is famous for a complex of 1,400 trulli houses, recognized by UNESCO as part of the historical and humanitarian heritage. Trulli, limestone peasant dwellings, are unique examples of drywall (no mortar) structures. They take their name from the Latin word trulla, which means dome.

7. Monsanto, Portugal

(Monsanto, Portugal)

The small village of Monsanto is proudly called "the most Portuguese village in Portugal." The local saying "In Monsanto you never know whether a stone is born from a house or a house from stone" very accurately reflects the uniqueness of the local architecture. Boulders serve as walls and roofs for some houses.

Small houses with red tiled roofs are hidden under huge granite boulders, and the narrow streets seem to have been carved out of stone by a giant.

8. Uchisar, Turkey

(Uchisar, Turkey)

Uchisar is one of the most densely populated villages in the area. Most of the population, of course, lives in the modern village, laid out near the famous rocks, but there are also living quarters in the rocks themselves.

It is a one-of-a-kind rock settlement with white tuff towers and spiers around a central peak. From the top of the cliff opens gorgeous view the whole valley.

9. Longji Rice Terraces, China

(Longji Rice Terraces, Chinese)

Longji's rice terraces are considered one of the most beautiful in China. Popularly called the Terraces of the Dragon Ridge, they are located around the picturesque village of Ping An. Terraces are the fruit of many years of work, they have existed almost since the XII century and were built on the slopes of mountains up to 1,100 meters high. The peasants who built them took care of their survival in mountainous areas and that was their only opportunity to feed their family.

10. Pariangan, Indonesia

(Pariangan, Indonesia)

The active volcano Merapi, towering over this village in West Sumatra, is one of the country's main natural treasures. Pariangan is considered the oldest village of the Minangkabau people, so an inquisitive tourist can learn a lot about the culture and customs of the indigenous population.

It has preserved charming gabled traditional houses, including a 300-year-old building with wicker rattan walls, as well as a beautiful 19th century mosque.

11.Kua Wan, Vietnam

(Fishing Village Cua Van, Vietnam)

Cua Wan is a picturesque fishing village in Halong Bay. This is one of the largest fishing floating villages, located right on the water surface. You can get there by rowboats and see the locals mining all kinds of gifts South China Sea... Local residents live in colorful raft houses; the school is also located in one of the floating houses.

12. "Dutch Venice", Giethoorn, Netherlands

(Giethoorn, the Dutch Venice, Nederland)

Giethoorn is one of the most beautiful villages in the Netherlands, also often called the "Venice of the Netherlands", as it is located on water channels with a total length of about 7.5 km. The settlement was founded in 1230. There is a bicycle path and numerous water channels for getting around the village. The main means of transport are rowboats and electric motor boats. Houses are located on islets and are connected wooden bridges(there are more than 50 of them throughout the village).

13. Biburi, UK

(Bibury, England)

Biburi is considered one of the most beautiful, picturesque and oldest villages in England - the first mention of it dates back to the 11th century. It seems that time has stopped here - old houses, beautiful nature and even public transport does not travel, so that nothing violates the pristine beauty. Poets and artists, as well as filmmakers, go to the village for inspiration - The Diary of Bridget Jones and films about Mrs. Marple based on stories by Agatha Christie were filmed here.