10 cities that look incredibly cozy and fairytale-like
10 cities that look incredibly cozy and fairytale-like
Big cities compete with the height of their skyscrapers, while small ones win you over in other ways — with cozy streets, unusual houses, and that special feeling as if time moves slower and you’ve stepped into an old fairy tale. These 10 fairytale cities could easily make the list of best travel destinations: they have preserved medieval architecture, ancient legends, and landscapes that make you want to pack your suitcase immediately.
Beautiful European Cities in the Alps with Castles and Colorful Houses
German Mittenwald is surrounded by the Bavarian Alps and looks like a book illustration come to life. Its houses are adorned with carved gables, bright facades, and wall paintings. Poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe called this place “a living picture book,” and the residents have worked hard to preserve its old appearance: main roads pass away from the center, and a restored stream once again flows through the market square. A similar tranquility reigns in other car-free towns, where historic centers have been given over to pedestrians.
Mittenwald, Germany
Swiss Gruyères sits at the foot of the Alps and is known to many thanks to its famous cheese. But it’s worth visiting for more than just the food. The town has preserved cobblestone streets, historic buildings, and the medieval Gruyères Castle, which now operates as a museum. Tourists can also enjoy tours and tastings related to local cheese and chocolate. You might also learn why cheese has holes in it.
Gruyères, Switzerland
French Colmar is quite different but no less fairytale-like. Tall houses here stand close together, and their facades are covered with carvings and painted in “candy” colors. Some buildings widen toward the upper floors: this once allowed owners to reduce taxes, which were based on the house’s footprint at street level. During World War II, Allied forces tried not to destroy the city’s 15th–16th century architecture. Architectural tricks in Europe came in all sorts of varieties — including fake house facades.
Colmar, France
Medieval European Cities Preserved to This Day
Italian Corinaldo is surrounded by 14th-century fortifications. The most recognizable spot is Piaggia street, consisting of 109 wide steps. The stairway descends between ancient buildings to a well connected to a local legend about a peasant who dropped a bag of cornmeal into it, climbed down after it, and never returned. According to the tale, he stayed in the well eating endless polenta. Once a year, residents reenact this story in medieval costumes alongside jugglers, acrobats, and participants in knightly performances. Judging by a discovered manuscript of a medieval comic, lively performances were loved hundreds of years ago as well.
Corinaldo, Italy
Český Krumlov is easily recognized by its red rooftops and brightly painted castle. The local castle is second in size in the Czech Republic only to Prague Castle. The town itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its cobblestone alleys are perfect for leisurely strolls. Krumlov is compact enough to walk through at a relaxed pace — much like some countries you can walk across in a single day. For those who want more, a more active entertainment is offered — whitewater rafting on the Vltava rapids a bit upstream.
Český Krumlov, Czech Republic
Bruges in Belgium is all about canals, tall churches, historic pubs, and a market square. In spring, one of the city’s courtyards is covered with daffodils, and you can see the historic center during a boat ride or in a horse-drawn carriage. A similar atmosphere has been preserved in other car-free cities, where space is given to boats and pedestrians. Special attention is deserved by the Bonifacius Bridge: despite its fairytale appearance, it is a completely real place and not a movie set.
Bruges, Belgium
