Today I’ve put together a little guide of fairytale towns in Europe. I have visited all of these picturesque villages and towns and their charm has lasted in my memory.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
Located in northern Bavaria, this little village is like a walk back into the Middle Ages – minus the plague! It is located on the Romantic Road in Germany. Many of the buildings age from the 1300s to the 1600s. It is surrounded by a medieval wall and is German’y best preserved medieval town! I’ll let the pictures to do the talking.
Oberammergau, Germany
This town located in the Bavarian Alps is famous for its adorable buildings with painted facades. The facades depict fairytales, religious scenes, and trompe-l’oeil. It is also known for hosting the passion play which occurs once a decade. The play was first performed in 1634 and it is the result of a vow made by the inhabitants of the village that if God spared them from the effects of the bubonic plague then sweeping the region they would perform a passion play every ten years.
The village is also famous for its woodcarving. The Bavarian State Woodcarving School is located here.
Ok, so this is not a painted building, but I had to include the chicken lace drapes!
The Cotswolds, England
This is a region in England. Cot means sheep and wolds is farm – so there are surrounding sheep farms in this area. I couldn’t choose just one town to feature, so my pictures are a collection from various towns and villages. Not only are the buildings cute, but so are the town names: Upper and Lower Slaughter, Chipping Camden, Stow-On-The-Wold, Burford, Bourton on the Water.
It is known for its rolling hills, idyllic villages with surrounding farms. Many of the houses are built of stone. This church is from the 12th century.
Like most things in Europe it seems, these little houses are from the 1500 and 1600s and still standing!
Also many cute storybook-worthy thatch roof houses here.
Colmar, France
This little village is located in the Alsace region of NE France, which sits on the border of Germany. There are both French and German influences here.
It has belonged both to France and to Germany – depending on who won which war. The timbered buildings are so beautiful.
I personally love the Alsace region of France – you can get both a fabulous croissant and a pretzel all from the same bakery!
Many of the buildings are from the 1500 and 1600s. It is sometimes called little Venice since it is located on a canal.
Honfleur, France
This little town is located on the Normandy coast of France. It sits on the Seine’s estuary. The townhouses are from the 16th-18th centuries.
It is hard to believe these old buildings are still standing and not all demolished from the war. 
This adorable fishing town was actually quite rich as it made its money from the port.
It is has been a favorite of many artists including Claude Monet.
Hallstatt, Austria
This scenic town sits on Lake Hallstatt in Austria. I was there so many years ago unfortunately the pictures I shot are not up to par. Hallstatt is located in part of the Salzkammergut region in Austria – where you literally feel that the hills are alive with the Sound of Music.
The town is full of 16th century traditional houses and is Austria’s oldest village. Nearby there are the Hallstatt salt mines – you can tour them in your bunny suit and slide down salt slides! It was so fun. It is outside of Salzburg – and frankly, prettier than Salzburg! Take a boat tour and let the hills sing to you.
Honorable Mentions
Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany
I can’t write a fairytale town post without mentioning the ultimate fairytale castle, Neuschwanstein castle in Bavaria. The inside isn’t that pretty to be honest as far as European palaces and castles go, but the outside is the one that inspired Walt Disney and I think is what most of us think of when we think of a castle!
St. Gallen, Switzerland
Ok, so there is a cute little town square here that I had to include mainly because I think this building is just the cutest thing ever. St. Gallen has the oldest library in Switzerland, built in 937. I have no pictures of it as photography wasn’t allowed. The library itself is a world heritage site. St. Gallen also has a textile museum and a beautiful rococo church.
Strasbourg, France
I was keeping this list limited to fairytale towns and Strasbourg is certainly no town – it is a major city and is actually the capital of the EU! But I had to include this picture since it is right out of a fairytale book!
I do hope you enjoyed my list of fairytale towns in Europe. Have you ever been to any of them? Also, I’ll be including some more travel posts this Summer since everyone seems to be traveling right now!
If you like my travel posts, check out my travels to Germany, France, England and Switzerland.
Also, check out my guide on what to pack in your carry-on! It is my most popular post to date.
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Loved this recap! So much fun remembering out visits to all the locations in Germany and Cotswold’s. France is on our list to get back to beyond Paris, in the next few years. In the Cotswolds’, we visited the little village church where my husband’s Quaker ancestor was baptized in the 1600’s and many generations of ancestors before him. The current vicar invited us to tea! The town at one time had nearly been wiped out by the plague. The church was built by a Templar knight. In France I want to visit the castle of an ancestor that seasonally is open to the public. My family lost ownership of the castle, when a relative mentioned in the Three Musketeers, was imprisoned in the Bastille by evil Cardinal R. His bust is still on the castle grounds.
Author
Oh what a fabulous tale of history to be able to visit an old church that ancestors were a part of! And that story about the Three Musketeers, wow! Yes my husband tells me his family came from some ancient princes but lost their castle (and probably their heads too!). Thank you for sharing your story!
Oh My GOODNESS !! My DREAM would be to live in the fairytale Bavarian Village as shown in your pictures !!! I do NOT fly or I would be there in a heartbeat ! What AMAZING pictures ! I will save this post and treasure these beauty’s !!THANK YOU !! Cindy Lou
Author
Well, the closest cute little town that I’ve been to that is reminiscent of Bavaria is located in Eastern Washington called Leavenworth. Glad you enjoyed my photo tour!
Gorgeous photos and post, but I would have to include Odense, Denmark—home of Hans Christian Andersen, the Father of so many beloved fairytales. Much of the city is the same as it was in the 1820’s. You’ll have to put that one on your list!
Author
I looked it up – what a cute town indeed! I’ll add it to my bucket list!
What a great post, it brought back so many memories. I’ve been to those places and loved them all. We went down into the salt mines and did the boat tour. We would stay at the military quarters when we would visit Oberammergau. I loved hearing the bells on the cows every morning! I always loved Rothenburg at Christmas. I lived about six miles from France so we visited Strasbourg a lot. What great memories!
Author
I love hearing the cow bells too! What lovely memories you have shared with us!
Lovely post! I want to go see them all. In the meantime, I’ll enjoy your photos.
Author
I want to go back to all the places, they are so cute! Glad you enjoyed the virtual visit!
This post is amazing, Angelina! I would love to get to every single one of these places! I did get to a few others last month, but that’s the great thing about Europe – there’s always more to see.
Author
I would love to go back and spend more time but there are so many other places to see!
What beautiful pictures. I was transformed to those places. I love the Cotswolds. I was lucky enough to visit there.
Thanks for sharing them at last week’s Thursday Favorite Things. Please stop by since you are being featured this week.
Hugs,
Bev
How lovely! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home.
what a fun photo tour. It’s like a mini break while I’m still in my pajamas ( wink) xo
Author
yes- minus the jet lag!
st. gilgen and lyons a floret are my favorite, almost disney, towns! i’d love to visit a few more of the ones you listed, and i’d like to go back to neushwanstein when it’s NOT covered in fog. that was a bummer!
b
Author
I’d love to visit those towns you have listed. I have been to Neuschwanstein three times – once it was foggy, once it was raining, once it was overcast but we could see the castle.