Throughout the world, there are many places that look like they belong in a fairytale book. Their beauty and sometimes bizarre aesthetic qualities make them rather unique. Step right into your favorite storybook with these stunning and completely real places throughout the world.
Rakotz Bridge, Germany
Located in Germany’s Kromlauer park, made out of rock spires, dates back to the 19th century. It is in the shape of a half-circle and was designed so that the reflection in the water would look like a perfect circle. Like many other spooky bridges in Europe, it’s nicknamed The Devil’s Bridge. This is due to the superstition that such bridges were so dangerous or miraculous that they must have been built by something not human. In order to preserve the bridge, it can no longer be walked on, but it can be viewed at a good angle in the park.
Hohenzollern Castle, Germany
Only a short distance from Stuttgart, even with more than 200 castles in Germany, this is still one of the most beautiful in the country. It has an interesting history as it was part of the Hohenzollern dynasty during the Middle Ages. The family that occupies it today are distant relatives who run tours of the interior of the castle. Browse the magnificence, splendor, and grandeur of these historic walls.
St. Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow
The official name of this cathedral is “The Cathedral of the Intercession of the Virgin by the Moat”. The cathedral was built to celebrate Ivan the Terrible’s capture of Kazan back in 1552. There’s been a lot of stories about this castle since it’s completion in 1560. One of the more interesting rumors is that Ivan actually blinded the two builders who built the castle so that they would never be able to complete anything else as beautiful as it. Today the cathedral is multicolored, but in the past it was white. There have been countless efforts to restore it and a rather interesting find was made during one of these restoration efforts. A wooden spiral staircase was found behind one of the cathedral’s walls back in the 1970s. Now a museum, visitors use the staircase to go into the central church.
Hallstatt Village, Austria
This village doesn’t look like any other place in Austria. In fact, it has somewhat of a fairytale feel. It dates back for centuries and flourished during the iron age. Once an ancient salt mine, the area features Alpine houses from the 16th century. One of the things that sets the village apart from others is that it sits along Lake Hallstatt and mountains. They acts as a backdrop to the town. There is a viewing platform for those that want to get an up-close view of the lake. Other sites to see include the Waldbackstrub waterfall and the Echern Valley. The town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site for more than 20 years.
Lake Reschen, South Tyrol, Italy
What makes this area so enchanting isn’t the water itself, but the bell tower that was built there. Back in 1939, Montecatini, which was an electric company, wanted to combine two lakes, Reschensee and Mittersee. The plan was to build a large dam that would allow for the ability to harness electricity. Unfortunately, the town of Graun as well as parts of Reschen would be flooded because of it. Despite a lot of opposition, plans moved forward and Graun was flooded. Before doing so the rest of the church was removed, but the bell tower remained in place. Despite the bells being removed before the town was flooded, many of the locals claim you can hear bells ringing on a quiet winter night. Tourism agencies provide fishing, ice-skating, snow-kiting, kite surfing, walking, and cycling tours in or around the lake. During the winter, it’s possible to enjoy great ski slopes and at times reach the bell tower on foot, since the lake freezes.
Mont-Saint-Michel, France
Located between Brittany and Normandy, this island commune is one of the most recognizable landmarks in France. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the commune itself is made up of more than 60 different buildings. These include houses, a monastery, and even a jail. This island, with its fast and fickle tides, was a notorious prison during the French Revolution. Today, over 3 million people per year visit, seeking to explore the 11th-century abbey, dine in fine restaurants, and take in the impressive evening illuminations.
Colmar, France
Colmar is a photographer’s dream, with its labyrinth of cobbled lanes, flower-lined canals, and timber-framed houses painted in a rainbow of pastel hues. It’s the quintessential Alsatian town, brimming with traditional restaurants and surrounded by vineyards and medieval castles. It’s a place you will want to visit more than once.
Manorola, Italy
Italy’s Cinque Terre is made up of five picturesque villages, but Manarola is among the most dramatic. The current town center dates back to the 12th century. A series of colorful houses, in the typical Ligurian style, crowd the main street (Via Discovolo) and the surrounding tiny alleys, known as caruggi. The region is popular for white and sweet Sciacchetra wine.
Looking to visit some of these amazing places? Italy tours, France tours, and Germany tours are available for 2021 and 2022, as well as European river cruises.
