Europe's Most Stunningly Beautiful Villages

[Carmen Elsa Irarragorri Wyland]

 

Europe is the birthplace of Western civilization, and it’s also where many of the most significant events in human history played out. It’s where democracy was born, the Renaissance flourished, and the World Wars begun. The continent also happens to be home to the most beautiful villages in the world:

1. Montrèsor, France
Nestled on the banks of the Indoris, this village is famous in France for preserving cultural traditions and historical architecture.

2. Pučišća, Croatia
This magnificent village was built almost entirely of local stone, found on the Island of Brac, where it is located. The village has preserved the historical art of stonework, with parents passing the knowledge down to their children.

3. Hallstatt, Austria
​Hallstatt used to be one of the most isolated places in Austria, with no more than 1,000 residents. The village had a tradition of exhuming their dead every ten years to make space for new ones, and leaving the skulls decorated with the owner’s name and profession.

4. Bled, Slovenia
One of Slovenia’s top tourist attractions, Bled is famous for its ancient castles and picturesque views.

5. Rocamadour, France
The name means “Lover of Rock”, and was given to the village to commemorate a hermit that used to live where the village now stands. It is claimed that the hermit actually conversed with Jesus, and his burial place became a place of pilgrimage for French believers.

6. Bonifacio, France
Originally founded as a fortress, Bonifacio is built above the water of the Mediterranean Sea, on the French island of Corsica.

7. Gruyères, Switzerland 
Built in medieval times, Gruyères’ streets are all made of cobblestone and the use of cars is greatly discouraged within the village.

8. Colmar, France
Fondly referred to as “Little Venice”, this small village looks like it came out of a Disney movie, and is known for its high-quality white wine – Alsatian Wine.

9. Bibury, England
Considered to be one of the prettiest villages in all of England, Bibury is most famous for its stone-built cottages, called “Arlington Row”. The buildings are so beautiful, that Henry Ford once tried to purchase all of them, in order to ship them to the U.S.