When we say or hear the word "village", we mainly imagine small village with dilapidated buildings and almost no communications. But not all dereani are like that, there are also very beautiful and decent villages where you want to live all the time.
Bibury, England
The English village of Bibury 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 fairy-tale illustration. The village itself is much older - the first mention of this settlement dates back to the 11th century. Despite being popular with tourists, public transport Bibury still does not go, and to get here you need to take a train at London Paddington Station, get to Kemble Station, and then only by taxi.
Ezze, France
This picturesque village stands on the shore mediterranean sea. For many centuries, incessant wars have been waged 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.
Caleta Tortel, Chile
The small village of Caleta Tortel has the glory of "Chilean Venice". True, there are no stone palaces and majestic bridges here, but there are many picturesque wooden houses towering on stilts and connected to each other by a whole web of light suspension bridges, and sometimes just stairs. For obvious reasons, on road transport it is impossible to move here.
Cua Van, 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 the Ha Long bay surrounded by huge cliffs. The village school is located in one of these raft houses, and students come to it by boat. To see all the beauties of this village, tourists also have to hire a boat.
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 beautiful landscapes especially strong.
Savoca, Sicily
This village with a thousand-year history is well known to fans of the book and the film "The Godfather", because the events reproduced in the film were filmed here. Here you can visit the Bar Vitelli and the famous Capuchin Monastery, where the most famous crypt is located, in which over fifty bodies of local nobility and clergy have been stored for centuries, naturally mummified in the catacombs.
Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia
All the buildings in this Tunisian village have the traditional colors of 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 fine. Many representatives of creative professions constantly rest here, and many tourist companies offer day trips here.
Shirakawa-go, Japan
This picturesque village is on the list world heritage UNESCO. Here you can admire the wonderful houses with triangular roofs built in the "gassho" style, as well as Ogimachi Castle, which is located near the village. Tourists are brought here by a regular bus.
Wengen, Switzerland
The views of this Swiss village at any time of the year resemble fairy-tale scenery. 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. Here is the famous ski resort and the amazing Kriegsloch Cave, which is said to be able to foretell the approach of war. It is forbidden to drive ordinary cars here so as not to spoil the purest mountain air. But there are always many environmentally friendly electric vehicles at the service of tourists.
Zaanse Schans, Holland
Unlike modern Amsterdam, the village of Zaanse Schans still retains its original original face. There are also typical houses of the 17th century and famous windmills creating a real "Dutch" landscape. Here they sell wonderful natural cheese, beautiful painted porcelain and traditional wooden shoes.
We present to your attention the top 10 most picturesque villages in the world. Here we go…
Bibury, England
The English village of Bibury 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 fairy-tale illustration. The village itself is much older - the first mention of this settlement dates back to the 11th century. Despite its popularity with tourists, public transport still does not run in Bibury, and to get here you need to take a train at London Paddington Station, get to Kemble Station, and then only by taxi. 
Shirakawa-go, Japan
This picturesque village is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Here you can admire the wonderful houses with triangular roofs built in the "gassho" style, as well as Ogimachi Castle, which is located near the village. Tourists are brought here by a regular bus. 
Wengen, Switzerland
The views of this Swiss village at any time of the year resemble fairy-tale scenery. 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. Here is the famous ski resort and the amazing Kriegsloch Cave, which is said to be able to predict the approach of war. It is forbidden to drive ordinary cars here so as not to spoil the purest mountain air. But there are always many environmentally friendly electric vehicles at the service of tourists. 
Ezze, France
This picturesque village stands on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. For many centuries, incessant wars have been waged 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 original face. There are also typical 17th century houses and famous windmills, creating a real "Dutch" landscape. Here they sell wonderful natural cheese, beautiful painted porcelain and traditional wooden shoes. 
Pariangan, West Sumatra
The picturesque streets of this Minangkabau village are literally at the foot of the active volcano Merapi, which has erupted almost 40 times over the past 200 years. The dangerous neighborhood makes the impression of beautiful landscapes especially strong. 
Savoca, Sicily
This village with a thousand-year history is well known to fans of the book and the film "The Godfather", because the events reproduced in the film were filmed here. Here you can visit the Bar Vitelli and the famous Capuchin Monastery, where the most famous crypt is located, in which over fifty bodies of local nobility and clergy have been stored for centuries, naturally mummified in the catacombs. 
Cua Van, 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 the Ha Long bay surrounded by huge cliffs. The village school is located in one of these raft houses, and 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 glory of "Chilean Venice". True, there are no stone palaces and majestic bridges here, but there are many picturesque wooden houses towering on stilts and connected to each other by a whole web of light suspension bridges, and sometimes just stairs. For obvious reasons, it is impossible to travel here by road. 
Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia
All the buildings in this Tunisian village have the traditional colors of 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 fine. Many representatives of creative professions constantly rest here, and many tourist companies offer day trips here.
Who said only big cities can be beautiful and attractive? The world is full of charming and impressive villages and small towns with their own significance and historical value, and you can find out about some of the most interesting among them below.
Alberobello
Located in the southeast of Italy, the village of Alberobello is famous for its stone huts with conical roofs called "trullo". These structures have the opposite effect of splendor and brightness, they look rather gray and modest, but at the same time they are excellent examples of ancient building techniques, although in fact they are no more than a few centuries old.
Pariangan
According to legend, Mount Marapi in western Indonesia was the first place where the Minangkabau people settled. Today this active volcano rises above the village of Pariangan, where the Minangkabau people still live. This picturesque place boasts a large number of well-preserved buildings, as well as an old mosque. This village is protected due to its great cultural and historical importance.
Savoca
This village, located near the extreme eastern point of Sicily, is next to the famous tourist city Taormina. Savoca does not have the same brightness as her neighbor, but she can attract people in other ways. It has a timeless, deeply Sicilian charm that was perfect for filming Coppola's legendary film The Godfather 2 here. The Vitelli bar seen in the movie is still open, but it also has a large number of churches, residential buildings and other ancient buildings that you can admire to your heart's content.
Goreme
Goreme is a small town in the center of Asia Minor, in the heart of Turkey. Nestled among the world famous hoodoos, this town is perfect place for those who want to see these amazing rock formations. There is some sense of another world about this settlement, founded over two thousand years ago. It is especially worth paying attention to the fact that many of the residential buildings are made directly into the rocks - the same goes for some churches, which are beautifully decorated.
Madison
The city of Madison was founded over two centuries ago and named after President James Madison - and it is he who is considered one of the most beautiful small towns in the country. However, the historical value of the city does not end there - here you can also find various examples of pre-war architecture, which give the city its charm. It is said that General Shepard spared this city during the war, as it was too beautiful to be destroyed.
Huscar
Until recently, Huscar was an average village located in southern Spain. As in most of these villages, all the walls of the buildings were whitewashed - until 2011, when they were all painted blue in honor of the premiere of the feature film "The Smurfs". And the locals liked this change so much that they turned down the Sony Pictures film company, which offered to repaint the walls white after the premiere, and now they are the main attraction.
Reine
Reine is located in the Lofoten Islands in Norway and is one of the most attractive and beautiful places beyond the Arctic Circle. The unexpectedly mild climate means that both residents and tourists can enjoy the incredible surroundings without any problems.
Sidi Bou Said
This village is located north of the capital city of Tunisia and sits on the very edge of a cliff, offering incredible views of the Mediterranean Sea. But the views aren't all it boasts given place, you can also pay attention to the colors of the houses - the combination of blue and white prevails here, creating an unforgettable atmosphere.
Wengen
The Swiss village of Wengen is one of the most picturesque in Europe, which attracts thousands of tourists both in summer and winter. It is located high in the Alps and is ideal for ski tourism. It is also worth noting that there are no cars at all here, which makes the air incredibly clean, reduces noise levels and creates an atmosphere of silence.
Shirakawa
This small village is located on the island of Honshu, nestled among the rocks and is the place where the most snow falls in a year in the world. Because of this, the inhabitants came up with a special type of housing, which is called "minka". Such houses are equipped with a thick triangular roof, resembling the hands of a praying person - this shape helps to provide adequate resistance to snow.
Burano
Burano is a tiny archipelago of four islands located in the Venetian lagoon. What sets this village apart from all of Venice and all other villages in the world is that the inhabitants painted their houses in different bright colors. This trait has become so important to the village that you now need a special permit to paint a wall a different color. And originally it was done by fishermen to distinguish their houses in the fog.
biburi
Located in the west of England, the village of Bibury has a thousand-year history and is one of the most picturesque places in all of Great Britain. She is known for her stone cottages in the Cotswold Hills. Walking through the streets of this village can be a real journey back in time.
Hallstatt
The village of Hallstatt is located right on the lake, not far from Salzburg, in the heart of Austria. Not only is it incredibly picturesque, but it also has an impressive history behind it. It has always been incredibly wealthy thanks to its salt mines and is known for its culture, which is associated with the ancient Celts. Today, the attractiveness of the village is so great that a full-size replica with houses and a church has been built in China.
And I
This village is located on the cliffs of Santorini and benefits from such an incredible location. Residents and visitors can get astounding views of the Santorini volcano. Elegant white houses gleaming in the bright sun dominate the village, but towering over them is an ancient castle and worth noting is the windmill, which is one of its most iconic structures.
Eze
Eze is an incredibly beautiful and picturesque town located along the banks of the French Riviera. It rises to 1,400 feet above sea level and offers breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea and other surrounding areas. In addition to the views, Eze boasts a famous medieval charm thanks to well-preserved centuries-old buildings.
Quote from valniko77 The most beautiful European villages and towns
There are quite a few villages in European countries that, in terms of originality of their architecture, are not inferior to the sights of the capital, and the incredibly picturesque nature around them can cause genuine delight even among experienced travelers. Here are just some of the most picturesque villages and small towns located in different parts of Europe.
Obidos, Portugal
This picturesque old City for a long time was part of the dowry of the Portuguese queens. The city has many architectural sights, the largest of which is the Óbidos 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 liqueur ginjinha.
Village of Eze, French Riviera
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 celebrities rested and worked 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, through which brine is delivered to Ebensee.
Pitigliano, Italy
The population of this picturesque village is only 4,000 people. A fairly large part of the local population is Jewish, so the town even got the nickname Little Jerusalem. Near the city, many Etruscan crypts have been preserved, which the locals use as wine cellars. In the city itself and its environs, there are a lot of architectural monuments the era 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 a major branch of the local economy.
Wengen, Switzerland
Wengen - incredible 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 the famous Lauberhorn races are held every year in 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 concerts of folk and wind music are organized at the station. Also in Wengen there is a famous puppet theater.
Rapperswil. Switzerland.
Rapperswil is a small Swiss town located at the foot of Alpine mountains, near the lake Zürichsee. The main feature of the inconspicuous town is roses. It is all planted with whole plantations of cultivated wild rose, and a romantic thorn also flaunts on its coat of arms. In summer, the town turns into a huge blooming and fragrant flower bed - several tens of thousands of roses of several hundred species and varieties bloom here.
Autoire, France
Many consider Autoire to be the most beautiful village in all of France. The village has existed for more than 800 years, but most of all it has preserved buildings dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries, which look very picturesque against the backdrop of the massive cliffs surrounding Autoire from all sides.
Deia, Mallorca
The glory of this small village is not only picturesque surroundings, but also many famous people, V different time who lived here. The English poet Robert Graves, the American writer Anais Nin, the poetess Claribel Alegria are far from full list celebrities. Today Deia's popularity among tourists is so high that as many as 20 restaurants are constantly operating in the village to feed all the guests.
Ravello, Italy
The picturesque surroundings of Ravello have always attracted many tourists, among whom there were many celebrities. At one time, the 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 snow-white limestone is mined. This "marriage stone" was lined with the palace of Diocletian in antiquity, and in our time the Washington White House is decorated with it. But the main occupation of the inhabitants of the island is, of course, the service of numerous tourists arriving in these scenic spots from all over the world.
Kazimierz Dolny, Poland
Kazimierz Dolny is considered one of the most beautiful Polish cities. It has been attracting crowds of tourists and artists for more than two hundred years, especially in the summer. Improvised 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 magnificent rural views and picturesque ruins await tourists outside the city.
Carlingford, Ireland
A little over 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 Walloon Valley. Like many centuries ago, it is surrounded by a moat with water, and not far away stands 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 such that they are worth seeing.
Mittenwald, Germany
For real travel gourmets, they have become too hackneyed direction. Meanwhile, Michelin restaurants and the highest quality contingent today are more likely to be found in the outskirts, forgotten by God, picturesque and unbanal. ELLE presents 12 of the most beautiful villages and small towns in the world that will be the pearl of your itinerary.
The cozy medieval village of Yvoire, located on the French shores of Lake Geneva, officially bears the name of the most beautiful and most flourishing village in France. Everything here is compact and incredibly pretty - medieval architecture, narrow streets, colorful souvenir shops, local lake fish in restaurants and only 5 hotels where tourists from all over the world come. Something is blooming in the gardens and on the streets of the city all year round, but it is especially beautiful in Yvoire in the summer - it is literally immersed in vegetation. The rhythm of the city is surprisingly unhurried - the inhabitants are busy with the production of flowers and souvenirs, and the main local entertainment- walking along medieval castle Chateau d'Ivoire or marinas where swans swim among the boats.
By the way, Yvoire won a special prize at the national competition of France, where he was named the most authentic village that has preserved the signs of medieval life in its original form.
Mountains and the mirror surface of Lake Geneva are the main signs famous resort Evian, which is located on the border of France and Switzerland, in the foothills of the Savoy Alps. Since the end of the 19th century, the most famous mineral water in the Evian world.
The resort gained its fame precisely because of the healing properties of this water, which has become a worldwide brand, and today people come here for the incredible beauty of the places, as well as improve their health. Evian is located on the shore of the lake and is Small town with a huge amount of entertainment - equestrian and golf clubs, casinos, cafes and restaurants, as well as the Thermes Evian thermal center with an impressive list of procedures based on the mineral water of the same name.
Evian's main hotel is Evian Royal Resort - a luxurious palace on the very shore of the lake, occupying almost 50 hectares of park with swimming pools, wellness centers and hotel service of the highest standard.
The Evian resort is famous for its Golf Academy, which hosts the international women's tournament - L'Evian Championship Golf Club. The special lifestyle of this club with elegant lunches at the Chalet du Golf, cocktails and receptions traditionally attracts the cream of European society.
The place of power for every leader of secular life, Cote d'Azur famous, among other things, landscapes incredible beauty, local rose and the freshest oysters. One of the most picturesque villages of the French Riviera, located on the road from Nice to Monaco, is called Eze, and its history dates back to time immemorial - it was founded by the Phoenicians. The observation deck of this heavenly place, the cactus garden and the Church of the Penitent Sinners of the White Brotherhood are a favorite place for tourists from all over the world.
This village in Gloucestershire is considered the most beautiful and most English village in the world. At least, such experts of local life as William Morris thought so. A narrow street over the River Colne leads to a picturesque bridge, while St. Mary's Church, surrounded by pretty 17th century English houses, exemplifies the ideal authentic European village.
Included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, the village of Shirakawa-Go, located in the northern part of the Japanese prefecture of Gifu, in the valley of the Sokawa River, consists of only six dozen houses. Previously, the village was isolated from the outside world and was not marked on any geographical map- the dense forests surrounding it were considered impassable. Today, curious tourists are taken to the famous architecture of the houses in the "gassho" style by buses.
They say that it is Vietnam with its amazing nature served as a kind for the fantasies of the designers of the film "Avatar". And this is not surprising - there are no such landscapes anywhere else. Aesthetes and travelers have a special passion for the small fishing village of Cua Van - its small houses are supported by rafts and literally stand on the water, surrounded by the cliffs of Ha Long Bay. In one of these raft houses there is also a village school - students come there by boat.
Village without roads or "Dutch Venice" - this is the name of this wonderful place located on the water channels total length about 7.5 km. Here and today it functions only water transport. Giethoorn was founded in 1230 by a small group of refugees from the south of the country, but gained worldwide fame only in the twentieth century, after the Dutch director Bert Haanstra shot his famous comedy Fanfare here in 1958.
Just over 1,000 people live in a village in the Bernese Alps. Meanwhile, the place is so popular with visitors that, according to statistics, there are from 5 to 10 tourists for each local resident, depending on the season. There are several reasons for this - nearby is a popular ski resort and the amazing Kriegsloch Cave, which, according to legend, predicts the approach of war. The region is also famous for the puppet theater and the Mendelssohn Music Weeks. It is forbidden to drive cars here, so as not to spoil the purest mountain air.
The volcanic island of Santorini is one of the most romantic places on the planet. You have to climb from the port along winding and dangerous serpentines, but it's worth it - the residential part of the island offers fantastic views of the sea, the horizon and typical local buildings - white houses with blue roofs and church domes. According to legend, this place, beloved by couples for a peaceful honey moon, is designed to test the power of feelings - the sunsets of the village of Oia, the most beautiful point of the island, are so good that only people who are truly in love can look at each other, and not at the maddening the beauty of nature. At least that's what the legend says.
