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5 of Europe’s most beautiful villages and small towns, according to www.stumbleupon.com

Hallstatt, Austria   The storybook town of Hallstatt in central Austria enjoys a gorgeous setting on the banks of the Hallstätter See, between the pristine lake and a lush mountain that rises dramatically from the water’s edge. A history of salt mining dating back thousands of years has translated into enduring prosperity for the town, which is most evident in the beautiful square ringed with ivy-covered buildings.

Bibury, England    The Cotswold region is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England, and one of its loveliest villages is Bibury, where meadows abut ancient stone cottages with steep pitched roofs. The River Coln, which bisects the village, teems with trout, but the most scenic area is Arlington Row, a lane of sepia-hued cottages built in the 17th century to house weavers from a nearby mill.

Pučiśća, Croatia   The buses and cruises that stop along Croatia’s sunny Dalmatian coast unleash tourists eager to experience the charms of Dubrovnik and the ancient island village of Hvar. Fewer visitors find their way to Pučiśća on the island of Brač. The reward is a seaside village with outsize appeal: white-stone villas with terracotta roofs, narrow cobblestoned alleys, and a stone-paved square. Bask in its relative solitude and the many prime spots for swimming in the turquoise Adriatic Sea.

Telč, Czech Republic   Residents of Telč, a small town in south Moravia, were once quite competitive about the beauty of their homes, as is evident today on the main square, where one building is lovelier than the next. The Baroque- and Renaissance-style façades, featuring high gables painted in pale pastels, now support small shops and cafés. A grand Renaissance-era château and large fish-filled ponds surround the square.

Colmar, France   French and German influences mix in this well-preserved Alsatian village, where local bakeries sell both croissants and kugelhopf, and restaurants specialize in foie gras and sauerkraut.  A range of architectural styles, from German Gothic to French Neo-Baroque, can be seen in the old town, which was spared destruction during World War II.

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