Every corner of this oft-overlooked lakeside town in southeastern France is surreally beautiful. Annecy is often compared to Venice due to its network of canals which are lined with pastel-painted houses. Don’t miss the Palais de L'Isle, a 14th century building in the middle of the Canal du Thiou that once served as a prison, or the Pont des Amours (Lovers’ Bridge). 

Visby, on the Swedish island of Gotland, is worth the flight from Stockholm or three-hour ferry from the mainland. Well-preserved medieval ruins of the Old Town wall and castles earned Visby UNESCO World Heritage status and there are good restaurants and shops to be discovered in its twisting streets.  Visit in summer to make the most of the Baltic Sea and white-sand beaches.

So many white Ottoman houses climb the hillside to peer out across the limestone valley below that this UNESCO World Heritage-listed town in central Albania is called the ‘the town of 1000 windows.’ With a mountain-top castle, ancient city walls and winding cobblestone streets lined with coffee shops and a twisting history, Berat is an easy place to wander a day away.

Rows of rainbow houses line the cobblestone streets and hills lead up to a dramatic Gothic cathedral in Cobh (pronounced ‘cove’) in southern Ireland, a seaside village 30 minutes southeast of Cork. Millions of Irish departed the port town for America, Australia and elsewhere in the 19th and 20th centuries, so if you have Irish ancestors it’s likely they were here once. Eerily, Cobh was the last stop for the Titanic before it began its ill-fated Transatlantic journey toward New York. 

It would be remiss to go all the way to Lake Bled and not visit the nearby village of Radovljica, just seven or so kilometres from the famously picturesque turquoise lake. Atop a hill with views of the surrounding mountains and green fields, medieval buildings still stand here, including a defence wall and moat. Radovljica’s other claim to fame is the rather niche Museum of Apiculture, AKA a a beekeeping museum.

On Italy’s stunning Mediterranean island of Sardinia, one town in particular stands out for its beauty. San Pantaelo, in the north of the island, is a village of vine and flower-covered stone buildings with terracotta roofs that stand against a backdrop of dramatic granite mountains. Ruins of a 10th century church are here, and records in San Pantaleo’s current church in the town square indicate people have worshipped here since the 5th century. Eat your weight in ice cream while you wander the lazy streets, or pull up a chair at one of the restaurants on the square. There are just a couple of small hotels in San Pantaleo, but it’s an easy day trip if you’re staying in north or central Sardinia.

Be transported back to medieval France in Saint-Cirq Lapopie, a fairy tale village nestled in the mountains 90 metres above the winding Lot river and about two hours north of Toulouse. Many of the stone and wood buildings, including the towering church, date back to the 13th and 16th centuries. Allow enough time to have lunch at one of the cosy restaurants and browse the artisan boutiques.

A medieval wall surrounds the tiny village of Monteriggioni, nestled in the Tuscan hills outside Siena. You’ll marvel at how unbelievably well-preserved the town is, from the old defence wall that encircles the town to the 13th century Santa Maria Assunta church. In July each year, thousands descend on Monteriggioni for the Medieval Festival.

A 13th century castle ordered built by King Edward I looms over Conwy, one of the best-preserved medieval villages in the UK. Wander the narrow cobblestone street of the riverside town, which is ringed by an ancient wall with 22 towers once used as enemy lookouts. Conwy is home to the smallest house in Great Britain, a squishy 3.1 by 1.8 metre space open to the public.

Portugal is greedy with achingly beautiful villages, and Monsaraz is right at the top of the list. Close to the border with Spain, it’s a romantic cluster of whitewashed, terracotta-roofed buildings atop a hill, commanding panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, vineyards and Guadiana River. The car-free town’s piece de resistance is undoubtedly the ruins of the 13th century Monsaraz Castle.

Surely the world’s cutest capital city, Bern is a gem of medieval architecture and old-world charm perched on a hairpin bend of the river Aare. The snow-covered Alps are visible from many places in the city, as is the Swiss capital’s famous Zytglogge clock tower. Wandering the well-maintained cobblestones, it seems there’s a fountain or statue on almost every picture-perfect corner.

Like a village of gingerbread houses come to life, Rothenburg is rumoured to have been the inspiration for Disney’s Pinocchio. The medieval Bavarian town is magical year-round, but even more so at Christmas, when you can wander the markets sipping a hot apple cider as snow falls and golden light from the postcard-perfect buildings spills onto the cobblestones.

Crossing the fortified bridge first built in the 11th century that leads into Besalu, it’s so story book-esque you half expect to see Sleeping Beauty or Snow White. The Catalonian village, on the edge of a river about 30 minutes north of Girona, is nice just to wander.

The tiny, idyllic lakeside village of Hallstatt, the oldest in Austria, has to be seen to be believed. Its gingerbread house-style buildings, town square and dramatic clock tower are wedged between crystal-clear Hallstattersee lake and steep mountains. The best thing to do here is simply wander, or dine on seafood and Austrian fare at one of the restaurants in the square, to absorb the beauty. Stay the night in a B&B, or take the train on a day trip from Salzburg.

Dutch golden age painters, most famously Johannes Vermeer drew inspiration from Delft, and the city is just as romantic today. The city’s canals are lined with flowerbox-decorated homes, and the Netherlands’ cycling culture means there are a lot less cars than in similarly sized cities elsewhere in Europe. Delft is also known for its signature blue and white ceramics.

Experience a smaller, more relaxed version of Dubrovnik in Hvar, a holiday town on an island south of Split. It feels straight out of Game Of Thrones with its medieval sea wall and hilltop fortress - now merely a place to see the view, not watch for enemy invasion. You won’t feel like tearing yourself away from Hvar’s lapping aquamarine water, but the walk up to the fortress is worth it.

In the fishing village of Kas on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, ringed by shallow, shimmering aqua water, the pace of life is slow. Fuchsia flowers bloom along whitewashed walls, an abundance of lemons and oranges are for sale at the produce market, and dogs doze in the cool shade of buildings. Sit on the wall of the old amphitheatre at sunset to watch it all turn gold.

Change is slow in Dragor, an authentic Danish fishing village 30 minutes from Copenhagen. Take a day trip from the capital to explore the cobblestone streets lined with yellow painted buildings. In the summer it’s a great spot to cool off with a swim, in winter you can practice the art of hygge with a hot meal in the Strandhotel, a Danish restaurant in a 13th century building loved by locals which also has guest accommodation, if you don’t want to leave.

Sleepy and secluded, Assos, on the island of Kefalonia, is the Greek Islands paradise of your dreams. Pretty houses cluster on the hillside, the crystal clear water of the Ionian Sea laps at the pebble beaches, and diners watch docked boats bob gently as they eat fresh seafood. You’ll also find ruins of a 15th century Venetian castle and sea wall. Which century is it again?

Want the Prague experience without the crowds? Venture three hours southeast to the relaxed town of Olomouc. Like the Czech capital, Olomouc is teeming with history, Gothic and Baroque architecture, cathedrals and charming plazas, which are filled with revellers eating and drinking outdoors during summer. 

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