Living in a Fairy Tale

Rothenburg is a small German town situated in the Franconia region of Bavaria. It is well known for its well-preserved medieval old town, a destination for tourists from around the world.

Above: Rothenburg, Germany.

Santorini is a volcanic island in the Aegean Sea about 200 kilometers from mainland Greece. Its main industries are tourism and agriculture.

Above: Santorini, Greece.

Colmar is a town in the Alsace region in north-eastern France. It is renowned for its well-preserved old town, numerous architectural landmarks, and museums.

The Cinque Terre (The Five Lands) is a portion of the coast on the Italian Riviera. It comprises five villages. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and popular tourist destination.

Above: A village in China.

Pennan is a small village in Scotland and was originally built as a fishing village in the 18th century. The area was inhabited by prehistoric people in the Bronze Age and is known for a number of ancient monuments.

Above: Pennan, Scotland.

The Historic Villages of Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama are one of Japan’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Site is located in the Shogawa river valley in central Japan. The villages are known for their homes built in an architectural style called gassho-zukuri.

Above: The Historic Villages of Shirakawa-gō, Japan.

Bibury is a village in Gloucestershire, England. It is a popular tourist destination in the traditional rural areas of England.

Above: Bibury, England.

Kulusuk is a settlement of 267 people in eastern Greenland. The main industry of the village is tourism.

Above: Village of Kulusuk, Greenland.

The Portuguese city of Sintra is known for its 19th-century Romantic architectural monuments and beautiful nature. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major tourist center.

Above: Sintra, Portugal.

Kvivik is one of the oldest settlements in the Faroe Islands. Excavations have shown the remains of Viking houses.

Above: Village Kvivik, Faroe Islands.

The mountain village of Filzmoos is located in the province of Salzburg in Austria. It is well known for its ski area and mountain resort.

Above: Filzmoos, Austria.

Portofino is a picturesque Italian fishing village and vacation resort on the Italian Riviera. The town is known for its colorfully painted buildings along the shoreline.

Above: Portofino, Italy.

The Spanish town of Castellfollit de la Roca is situated on the basalt crad which is over 50 meters high and almost one kilometer long. It was formed by the overlapping of two lava flows.

Above: Castellfollit de la Roca, Spain.

Wengen is a village in the canton of Bern, located in central Switzerland. The town is sits 1,274 meters above sea level. It is a popular mountain-ski resort which hosts major ski tournaments.

Above: Wengen, Switzerland.

Reine is a Norwegian fishing village with a total population of 307. It is a popular tourist place, and despite its remote location thousands of people visit it annually.

Above: Reine, Norway.

Masca is a small mountain village on the island of Tenerife. It is situated at an attitude of 650 meters in the Teno Mountains. It is often considered the most spectacular village on the island.

Above: Masca, Spain.

Minervino Murge is a town and commune in the Apulia region in Italy.

Above: Minervino Murge, Italy.

Above: The village of Wengelsdorf, Germany.

Rocamadour is a commune in south-western France. It is a popular tourist attraction. It is known for historical monuments and its sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which for centuries has attracted pilgrims from every country.

Above: Rocamadour, France.