From Monemvasia to Monsaraz: 5 sleepy fairy tale villages in southern Europe

When we travel to Tuscany or Mallorca, we also want to experience Italy and Spain. In many cases, what you get pretuished as "authentic" at most holiday locations does not correspond to the typical character of the country. The "real" Italy orExperiencing is not that easy in classic tourist regions and at popular holiday resorts. That's why we went in search of places where the clocks tick differently.. Places that actually still live the original culture of the respective country. We are on a whole seriesSleeped fairy tale villages in southern Europebumped that usIncredibly fascinating.

What makes an authentic village? Well, no Segway tours and tourist attractions, no menus on ten different languages ​​and definitely no overcrowded marketplaces on which hundreds of people are piling up and selfies. In the fairytains that we in thehave found all of this will not happen to you. Life on site is not geared towards tourism, here you get a blunt look at the everyday life of people, culture and their lifestyle. And that is so much more valuable than all the well-known tourist hotspots that are recommended on various Bucket Lists.

If you didn't know that there will be such a beautiful fairy tale village behind the cliffs and rocks, you could overlook Monemvasia. The small town lies on a rock that is connected to the southeastern foothills of the Peleponnese peninsula over a narrow dam. The story of Monemvasia goes back to the fifth century and served the Byzantines as a retreat. Even today, architectural relics from this period can be admired; The architecture is characterized by both Byzantine and Ottoman and Venetian influences. And it is precisely this impressive appearance that makes Monemvasia this unique and special fairy tale village, which has so far been able to shield itself before the tourist masses. Hopefully it stays that way.

Portugal has been in the upswing for several years. Lisbon is now one of the top travel destinations for city trips to the south, or postage can hardly save itself from visitors. Not to mention the hustle and bustle that is going on in the high season on the Algarve. In Alentejo, a region in the south of the country, you don't get much of it. Near the Spanish border is a mountain village with a sonorous name, Monsaraz, which is still a real insider tip. An insider tip that is worth every visit. The picturesque fairy tale village is enthroned over the wide landscape and embodies this original Portuguese charm that is no longer found often. The regional craft, weaving art, determines everyday life here. There are also incredibly good taverns that seem a bit rustic but bring authentic cuisine onto the plate. And then the wine ...

There is a lot going on everywhere in summer. But Italy is particularly affected by over Tourism when we think of the crowds in Venice, Rome or the beaches of Tuscany. We can understand that everyone wants to go to Italy, Dolce Vita is the program here. But not if everything is just adapted to the wishes of the tourists. So if youAnd we want to see a piece of "real" Italy, we recommend a trip to the south of the region. There is Sovana, a charming fairy tale village, which actually only consists of a single street. The Piazza and the entire adjacent houses were built in medieval stone architecture and still offer the home for the small village community, which is as you imagine: open, loud, Italian.

All who oursWith the best insider tips for the Germans' favorite island, know: There are also many original places in the Balearic Islands, which have so far been able to defend themselves against the tours. One of the most beautiful and original fairy tale villages in Mallorca is Fornalutx in the north of the island. It is located in the Tramuntana Mountains between forested rocks and above all: far away from Bierkönig and Ballermann. Fornalutx really has nothing to do with party tourism. The Märchendorf seems almost a little sleepy and that is precisely why it is so charming. The narrow streets lead past flower coats and orange trees that stand in front of the traditional quarry stone houses. Here you can come down and go on a discovery tour through the most beautiful village of Spain when the Fornalutx has been awarded several times. Unfortunately, the mountain village is not an insider tip, but still beautiful to look at.

There are also many tourists in Provence, but of course also a good contrast program. With Moustiers-Sainte-Marie there is a picturesque Märchendorf in the east of the region that makes the traffic jam on the full streets of Provence. The village nestles close to a limestone cliff and is known for its ceramic art. Faience harness was once served in Versailles Castle, to this day Moustiers-Sainte-Marie has retained this tradition and operates various studios. And this fairy tale village is also something for the eye. The charming houses, the typical Provencal style, the surrounding nature - all of this makes the small community a very special experience. Not to mention the good food and the wine that is offered here. So feelsan.