Magical Medieval Small Towns in Europe To Visit
From forest-shrouded hilltop hamlets to coastal fishing communities that blossomed into trading ports, there is no shortage of beautiful small towns in Europe. Yet there’s one thing that Europe’s most magical towns often have in common: medieval roots. And I love them.
Half-timbered homes, hardy defensive walls and the Romanesque and Gothic architecture of the Middle Ages – we can’t seem to get enough of them. Every year, millions of us are enticed to visit these storied and picturesque old towns that are as timeless as they are enchanting.
Carcassonne, Bruges, Edinburgh, and even Prague often get a mention in articles about the best medieval towns in Europe, and I get it: they are beautiful. However, as spectacular as the well-preserved cores of these medieval cities are, they are very much cities. So, if you’re looking for some magical medieval towns in Europe to visit, I hope this list of my favourite small towns will introduce you to some hidden gems alongside the continent’s better-known storied settlements.
