Rural Villages Around the World That Redefine Natural Beauty

Aug17,2025

Nestled between the Alps and a shimmering lake, this UNESCO-listed village looks straight out of a fairytale.

Hallstatt, Austria

A fishing village in the Lofoten Islands, surrounded by dramatic fjords and snow-capped peaks.

Reine, Norway

Known for its thatched-roof farmhouses amid snowy mountains and rice fields.

Shirakawa-go, Japan

A “village with no roads,” where boats glide through dreamy canals lined with quaint cottages.

Giethoorn, Netherlands

Famous for its honey-colored stone cottages and lush meadows in the Cotswolds.

Bibury, England

With flower-bedecked houses, winding canals, and vineyard hills, it’s called the “Little Venice of Alsace.”

Colmar, France

A lavender-surrounded hilltop village in Provence that blooms in waves of purple every summer.

Simiane-la-Rotonde, France