5 Amazing Villages to Visit

If you’re looking for a cosy, quiet and relaxing holiday, visiting a village is for you. There are many different kinds of villages depending on what you enjoy, but here are some family favourites.

Conwy, Wales.

Conwy (Known as Conway in English) is a walled market town and community on the coast of Wales. It has a low local population of around 4000 people, and is a beautiful village. It is one of the most popular villages located in the UK, due to the many different attractions. When you visit Conwy, you can walk above the town walls, which are nearly 800 years old. During the night they are lit up beautifully, and you can walk around and admire the picturesque view at the top of the Conwy Castle and the surrounding area. The Conwy Castle is another great place to visit. It is, like the Town Walls, 800 years old and built by Edward I between 1283 and 1289. You can get a tour of this castle which survived many sieges, and is considered by UNESCO to be “the finest examples of late 13th century and early 14th century military architecture in Europe”. This small village is a great place to visit for families who enjoy historical locations and learning about them, as well as being a child-friendly area with many restaurants and different accommodations.

Conwy Castle

2. Koprivstitza, Bulgaria.

Koprivstitza is a historic town in the Sofia province, in the centre of Bulgaria among the Sredna Gora mountains. It is known for its folk music festivals, and amazing architecture. Koprivstitza is a town which preserves the Bulgarian National Revival which occurred in the nineteenth century, with over 300 historical monuments from that period. Collections of aged weapons, magnificent artwork, weaves and embroidery, national costumes and even jewellery are present. Every five years the National Festival of Bulgarian Folklore takes place, gathering artists, vendors and craftsmen from all around Bulgaria. Koprivstitza has a small population of around 2000, but this quaint little town is a magical place to visit if you enjoy art or are very into Bulgarian history.

Koprivstitza, Bulgaria.

3. Colmar, France

Colmar is an old, well preserved place, which is known for its Alsatian Wine and museums. A prime example of one of the many museums present in this area is Musée Bartholdi. It is the museum which shows Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi’s life, work and struggles. He was a popular French artist and sculptor known for creating the Statue of Liberty. This is a popular location for any American who wants to find out about the origins of the Statue of Liberty, and how it came to be. There is many little restaurants, filled with fine wines and amazing food. If you enjoy good wines and fine cuisine, this is a lovely place to go.

Colmar, France.

4. Vernazza, Italy.

Vernazza is located in Northwestern Italy. It has no car traffic, and is one of the nicest fishing villages in the world. It is a beautiful place, with magnificent lakes and extravagant houses. It is a little village, with only slightly above 1000 people, but it is well worth the visit if you enjoy fishing and like seeing nice views.

Vernazza, Italy.

5. Melnik, Bulgaria.

Melnik is a city. But it is not actually big enough to be a city. With a population of 385, it is the smallest town in Bulgaria. The only reason it still has city status is for historical reasons which cannot be changed. The unique architecture of Melnik makes it a very popular tourist destination. The town has been known for producing wine since the early 14th century, the wine being a favourite of Winston Churchill’s. Several fine wineries were built and operate today, producing internationally and locally. There are architectural landmarks such as the Byzantine House, which is the one of oldest civilian establishments in the Balkans. The edges of the town are fairly eroded, but if you’re a lover of fine wine this place is amazing and the historical monuments are very interesting to see.