Beautiful villages. The most beautiful villages in Russia
Long time Russian villages were forgotten, which is completely unreasonable. Of course, some of them are in a deplorable state, while others are completely abandoned and disappeared from the face of the earth.
According to the 2010 census, there are more than 150,000 rural settlements in Russia. And certainly there will be a few to compete for the title of the most beautiful. And in 2014, the Most Beautiful Villages Association was established, which supports the development of rural tourism. Let's go to a small virtual journey some of these villages.
The village of Bolshoi Kunaley, Buryatia
The village of Big Kunaley is located on the banks of the Kunaleyka River. The village appeared at the beginning of the 18th century and since then has been living its measured and quiet life. There are few inhabitants in the village - about a thousand people.
The peculiarity of the village is its houses. Built of timber, they are all painted in bright colors, with carved shutters and painted fences, and are somewhat reminiscent of a children's fairy tale.
Vyatskoye, Yaroslavl region
The village of Vyatskoye received the title of the most beautiful village in 2015. The village is actively developing in the field of tourism, there are only ten museums here. The houses here were rebuilt in the 18th-19th centuries, they once belonged to merchants, and some were drinking establishments. There are thirty monuments of cultural and historical heritage here, so there is definitely something to see. And tourists have chosen the village: in 2014 alone, 80,000 travelers visited it.
Desyatnikovo, Buryatia
Another village from Buryatia impresses with its brilliance: the houses here are painted with bright colors, and all this goes well with the green hills and endless expanses surrounding the village. Russia is truly felt here, immense and beautiful: around a century-old forest, untouched valleys with pure springs, berries and mushrooms, as well as the steppe.
Oshevensky churchyard, Arkhangelsk region
Only 73 people live in Oshevensky churchyard, but this did not prevent the village from joining the association of the most beautiful villages in Russia in 2016. At the entrance to the village stands a monastery founded in 1453. In addition, a whole block of traditional northern wooden buildings has been perfectly preserved here, at the head of which is the Church of the Epiphany with a bell tower. Well, the locals are trying to preserve the original traditions.
Kinerma, Karelia
Kinerma is located in the Pryazhinsky district of Karelia and last year was awarded the title of the most beautiful village in Russia. AT locality 17 houses, 10 of them are considered architectural monuments. All buildings here are rebuilt in a circle, in the center of which is a 250-year-old chapel and an old cemetery.
And, of course, all the village attributes: a well with ice water, a bathhouse, a barn with a souvenir shop, as well as a restored traditional peasant house. There is also a mini-hotel in Kinerma, stylized as the old days and furnished with antique utensils.
True, the locals were already quite tired of the flow of tourists, and at the beginning of 2017, information appeared on the network that they were asking to periodically close road sign)
Kimzha, Arkhangelsk region
This is the youngest village that bears the title of the most beautiful (received it in February 2017). There are 71 historical monument, including the Hodegetrievskaya Church of the early 18th century. Kimzha is somewhat reminiscent of a museum of wooden architecture, but everything here is real: strong log huts, wooden mills, large yards and a river where locals go fishing.
Also, until 1951, the locals had a curious tradition: they did not have a cemetery, and all the dead were buried according to their last will. Most often these were plots of land, and sometimes courtyards of houses. It was believed that in this way the ancestors would be able to protect their territories from troubles.
Soglio, Switzerland
The Italian artist Giovanni Segantini once called his winter residence in the Alpine village of Soglio La soglia del paradiso, translated into Russian as "the gate to paradise." And this is indeed a fitting description - a picturesque village overlooking the chestnut forests, located on a sunny terrace in the Bregaglia valley, can be called a great place for hiking trails. Neat houses, narrow streets and rose gardens make this place look like a perfect mountain village. Only 300 people live here, the official language is Italian, but many speak German. In 2015, the media named the village the most beautiful in Switzerland.
Rougon, France
The mountain village of Rougon, remote from civilization, is located on a high plateau with a panoramic view of the Verdon, the most impressive canyon in Europe. The village has fewer than a hundred people and is so tiny that it doesn't even have streets. From Rougon you can literally go in all four directions: go down and explore the gorge or climb further into the Alps, to the ruins of a dilapidated castle and observation deck from where you can enjoy views of the canyons, Haute-Provence landscapes and red-tiled roofs.
Arnastapi, Iceland
The sparsely populated peninsula of Snaefellsnes is located west of Borgafjordur, West Iceland. The island looks like a miniature copy of the "big brother". At the foot of Mount Stapafel lies the village of Arnastapi. Hiking enthusiasts can expect a three-kilometer path along the coast from Arnastapi to the neighboring town of Helnar, and 8 kilometers from the village there is famous volcano with the Snaefellsjokull ice cap, which can be seen even from Reykjavik. On the coastline there are colonies of different species of birds, minke whales and even killer whales often approach the shore. In a small cafe, visitors will be offered a "signature" fish soup, hot waffles, plus an incomparable view of the sea. A small church surrounded by rocks looks especially unusual.
Torla, Spain
In 1918 Ordesa Valley became a national park. Today it is the oldest nature reserve in the Pyrenees. Hiking trails run along the rocks overlooking mountain peaks and canyons, lakes and snowfields. The village of Torla, one of the smallest (pop. 400) places in the Pyrenees, is located at the entrance to national park. There is a hotel and two campsites in Torla, and an unusual church adorns the center of the settlement.
Gerstruben, Germany
One of the best ski resorts in the German Alps is the Bavarian Obersdorf, next to it is the small alpine village of Gerstruben, which looks like a museum thanks to its ancient buildings. But not only the architecture is striking: a sawmill, a cheese factory and mills still operate here. The chapel and several 17th century farmhouses have recently been restored.
Ushguli, Georgia
The Ushguli community is the main attraction of Svaneti, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Located at 2200 meters above sea level, Ushugli is the highest settlement in Europe. Getting there is an adventure: three hours by car on a rough dirt road along the Enguri River. Some sections of the road are very dangerous - in winter, for example, avalanches can come down from the mountains, and the road is closed. Guests of Ushguli can look at the ancient Svan towers that survived battles with the Mongols and the low winter temperatures of the mountainous region, churches, castles. Tourists are slowly mastering this direction: an open-air museum, several guest houses and cafes work for visitors.
Hallstatt (Hallstatt), Austria
The small village of Hallstatt, near Salzburg, is considered one of the oldest in Europe. It is located between the rocks and the lake of the same name. The village is known for its salt mines, which are more than three thousand years old. Less than 1,000 people live in neat European houses. In addition to residential buildings, Galtata has a salt mine, a prehistoric museum, and several churches. In China, by the way, they built a copy of the village - Echo Town - 1000 times larger than the original and with much more high prices for real estate. Since 2012, houses have been on sale, but the “copy” has not yet been fully populated.
Monsaraz, Portugal
Surrounded by olive trees, Monsaraz is the epitome of a medieval town. The main attraction is the impressive castle overlooking the village. The castle courtyard, an abandoned arena, is used in July as an open-air museum site and for a music festival. The cultural program in the village is varied: here they eat, sing, dance, and theatrical performances are organized.
Alden, Norway
The cruise port with the picturesque surroundings of Alden is located at mountain lake. This fjord village is surrounded by a typical Scandinavian landscape - giant mountains covered with greenery are reflected in the blue water of the lakes. Alden lives off agriculture and tourism, so there is no urban entertainment to be found here. Small wooden houses, two churches and a minimal set of amenities. The main local attraction is the Briksdal Glacier, which can be reached by minibus. After the glacier - Jostedalsbren National Park, even in the height of summer you need to take warm clothes with you. Tourist steam locomotives ply the valley, boat cruises and camping on the lake are also available. People usually come here to admire nature and go fishing.
Castelmezzano, Italy
The village of Castelmezzano in the Basilicata region is one of the most beautiful places Italy. Even from afar, this place looks magical: steep stairs, narrow streets, closely built houses, ancient churches against the backdrop of rocks. According to legend, the treasures of the Templars are hidden here. You can admire the natural diversity of the region on foot, mountain bike and on horseback: wild apple trees, pear trees, maple trees grow everywhere, cats, birds of prey peregrine falcons and even porcupines are hiding. Tourists especially favor the local cuisine. Hunters for the best view can ride through the ravine at a speed of 120 km/h on a local attraction, a 100-meter steel cable strung between the peaks of the Volo dell'Angelo mountains.
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Each of us has our own ideas about what a village and a village vacation is. However, such settlements around the world are very different, and at the same time they have something in common: clean air, a small number of inhabitants and a small cozy space.
website made a selection of 17 unusual and amazing villages that will win your heart and become the highlight of any trip.
1. Hallstatt, Austria
(Hallstatt, Austria)
Bright, like toy houses, sheltered in several tiers on a mountainside, an azure lake with floating swans, the Alps, which are reflected in the mirror-like water surface - all this gives the impression of a fairy tale come to life.
The population of Hallstatt does not exceed 1,000 people. And the location is unique: on a narrow strip of land between the majestic Alpine mountains and the Hallstattersee lake.
2. Simian-la-Rotonde, Provence, France
(Simiane-La-Rotonde Village in Provence, France)
Azure skies, lavender fields, Alpine mountains, Mediterranean cuisine and the charm of Provence - what else do you need to relax your soul? One of the attractions of this place is the castle of Agout (Château des Agoult), built in the XII century. The 12-sided pyramidal rotunda in the castle gave the town its name. Summer festivals of ancient music are held there.
3. Rainbow Village, Taichung, Taiwan
(Rainbow Village, Taichung, Taiwan)
On one of the outskirts of the city of Taichung, there was a military settlement, which, over time, almost all of its inhabitants left. The authorities decided to demolish the houses, and the 86-year-old war veteran, in order to save his yard from demolition, painted the walls of the houses with various characters and patterns. Today it is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Taiwan.
4. Marsaxlokk, Malta
(Marsaxlokk, Malta)
Marsaxlokk is a colorful fishing village in Malta. There are no storms in the harbor, so the yellow sandstone houses are located close to the water, leaving only a strip for the roadway and the pedestrian promenade. The population of Marsaxlokk is only about 3,000 people. Most men are engaged in fishing in the same way as their fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers once did.
5. Floating Uros Islands, Bolivia and Peru
(Floating Islands of Lake Titicac, Bolivia, Perú)
On the border of Peru and Bolivia, on Lake Titicaca, the Uru tribe lives, inhabiting 42 floating islands on the lake. These islands are built by the Uru themselves from reeds. From the same material, residents make boats on which they go for fish. Despite the remoteness from civilization, solar panels can be seen on the reed islands, which allow the locals to watch TV.
6. Alberobello, Italy
(Alberobello, Italy)
Alberobello is famous for its complex of 1,400 trulli, recognized by UNESCO as part of the historical and humanitarian heritage. Trulli - residential peasant houses made of limestone - are unique examples of buildings with dry masonry walls (without mortar). They take their name from the Latin word trulla, which means dome.
7. Monsanto, Portugal
(Monsanto, Portugal)
The small village of Monsanto is proudly called "the most Portuguese village in Portugal." The local saying “In Monsanto you never know whether a stone is born from a house or a house is made of stone” very accurately reflects the originality of local architecture. The boulders serve as the walls and roofs of some houses.
Small houses with red tiled roofs hid under huge granite boulders, and the narrow streets seemed to be carved out of stone by a giant.
8. Uchisar, Turkey
(Uchisar, Turkey)
Uchisar is one of the most densely populated villages in the area. Most of the population, of course, lives in a modern village built around the famous rocks, but there are living quarters in the rocks themselves.
This is a one of a kind rock settlement with towers and spiers of white tuff, located around the central peak. From the top of the cliff you have a great view of the entire valley.
9. Longji Rice Terraces, China
(Longji Rice Terraces, Chinese)
Rice terraces in Longji are considered one of the most beautiful in China. Popularly referred to as the Dragon Ridge Terraces, they are located around the picturesque village of Ping An. The terraces are the fruit of many years of work; they have existed almost since the 12th century and are built on the slopes of mountains up to 1,100 meters high. The peasants who built them took care of their survival in the mountainous regions, and this was their only opportunity to feed their families.
10. Pariangan, Indonesia
(Pariangan, Indonesia)
The active volcano Merapi, towering over this village in West Sumatra, is one of the main natural assets of the country. Pariangan is considered the oldest village of the Minangkabau people, so an inquisitive tourist will be able to learn a lot about the culture and customs of the indigenous population.
Charming gabled traditional houses have been preserved here, including a 300-year-old building with wicker rattan walls, as well as a beautiful 19th-century mosque.
11. Cua Van, Vietnam
(Fishing Village Cua Van, Vietnam)
Cua Van is a picturesque fishing village in Halong Bay. This is one of the largest fishing floating villages, located right on the water surface. You can get there by rowing boats and see the locals engaged in the extraction of all kinds of gifts from the South China Sea. Local residents live in colorful raft houses, the school is also located in one of the floating houses.
12. "Dutch Venice", Giethoorn, Netherlands
(Giethoorn, the Dutch Venice, Nederland)
Giethoorn is one of the most beautiful villages in the Netherlands and is also often referred to as the "Dutch Venice" as it sits on water channels with a total length of about 7.5 km. The settlement was founded in 1230. To move around the village there is a cycle path and numerous water channels. Rowing boats and boats with electric motors are the main transport. The houses are located on islets and are connected by wooden bridges (there are more than 50 of them throughout the village).
13. Bibury, UK
(Bibury, England)
Biburi is considered one of the most beautiful, picturesque and the oldest villages England - the first mention of it refers to the XI century. It seems that time has stopped here - old houses, beautiful nature and even public transport does not go, so that nothing violates the pristine beauty. Poets and artists, as well as filmmakers, come to the village for inspiration - Bridget Jones's Diary and films about Mrs. Marple based on the stories of Agatha Christie were filmed here.
There is a village Vyatskoe 38 kilometers from Yaroslavl. The village, which on October 15, 2015 became the first member of the Association of the most beautiful villages in Russia! Having learned about this event, I decided to go there to see for myself the delights of the village with my own eyes.
2. This is how one of the most beautiful villages in Russia looks like. The central square with restored mansions of the 18th and 19th centuries.
3. Hills, ravines, summer "amphitheater".
5. In some places, Vyatka looks like this.
6. And now the most interesting. Why, unlike most villages and villages in Russia, Vyatskoye has not died down, but is developing. The answer, of course, lies in money.
There is a businessman Oleg Zharov in Yaroslavl, who, according to local residents, was looking for a place to give himself in the vicinity of Yaroslavl. I arrived in Vyatskoe, fell in love with the local beauties, and decided to take on the restoration of the village. I bought an architectural monument of the 19th century - the house of an honorary citizen of Bogorodsky, restored it, the dacha is ready.
7. Zharov did not stop there, and over the past few years, more than 30 semi-abandoned mansions have been restored with the money of a businessman, several museums have been opened, and a church has been restored.Ascension of Christ built in 1750.
8. There are opponents of Zharov's "politics". Say, he buys and restores mansions with only one goal, to sell them, and thereby become richer. And he develops everything around and ennobles, only in order to build an elite cottage village. In any case, every year new jobs appear in the village, abandoned architectural monuments are restored.
9. Zharov also received a state award "For contribution to the revival and development of traditional cultural and historical values". He was invited to the Kremlin, planted next to Putin and Medvedev. Where Medvedev said: “Well, maybe we’ll go, Vladimir Vladimirovich, to Vyatskoye? At least the roads will be repaired for them by our arrival.” .
Apparently they never made it, and part of the road from Yaroslavl to the village of Vyatskoye is toa Yamutokanav. This is where our short journey to the most beautiful village in Russia begins.
10. Here it is Vyatskoye, an open-air museum of Russian rural life.The main idea of the museum is to present tourists with their own eyes the life of the Russian village as it was several centuries ago.
11. The village has a total of more than 500 years. And known in the history of Russia for crafts, noisy fairs, bazaars, schismatics, "going to the people", and talented people. For example, the sculptor A.M. Opekushin - the author of the monument to A.S. Pushkin in Moscow (on Pushkin Square), Pyotr Telushkin - the founder of "Russian mountaineering", who alone repaired the wing of the angel crowning the spire of the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg, by the poet Nekrasov, who found images of his heroes in Vyatka.
12. On the central square there is a restored fire station, now in a museum building.
10. The parking lot next to the depot is completely packed with tourists' cars. There are even guests with overseas rooms.
11. We park next to the tourist buses.
12. And along the Ukhtomka River, which flows through all of Vyatka, we are going to get acquainted with the local life.
14. Museum on the right bank of the river - black bath.
15. One of the central streets.
16. A lopsided hut.
17. Bath with a pool.
18. Hard to believe, but residential building. Satellite dishes even hang on the front side of the facade.
19. Almost destroyed temple.
22. The restoration work of the next mansion is mainly carried out by visitors from neighboring countries.
23. A fragment of a restored mansion.
24. The restored house of the photographer Kokoshkin, an architectural monument of the late 19th century. Perhaps one day the dangling wires will disappear and it will look really good.
25. One of the most beautiful buildings in the village of Vyatskoye. Inside museum of Russian entrepreneurship, or "The history of a village that wanted to become a city ...".
26. On the third floor The museum has a large exposition of household items.
27. On the second floor is the largest collection of musical instruments and boxes in Europe, many of which are still active. The collection, as we were told in the museums, belongs to Zharov.
29. Organola.
30. Perforated tapes for organola. And here it is worth retelling what we were told in museums.
In the old days, when a girl was given in marriage, it was important what her hearing was. And if the betrothed had problems with this, then before playing a piece of music to her future husband, a punched tape was inserted into the organola. The girl had only to press the pedal and imitate playing the keys. The music sounds beautiful, the groom is happy, everyone is happy.
Maybe it's just a bike, but it was told convincingly.
31. The most ugly building in the village, if this booth can be called a building, we will consider the branch of the Savings Bank. By the way, speaking of Sberbank, we closed the mortgage 3 days ago! We accept congratulations. Maybe one day I’ll even write what it was like to live under the yoke of the savings.
32. Russian post office.
33. A fragment of a restored architectural monument. Everything is done quite well, even the smallest elements of stucco are preserved and restored.
34. From the yard, this house looks much sadder. Perhaps it means that no one will set foot in the yard.
35. Outskirts of the village.
36. Neighboring village, and country road home.
p.s. perhaps some information about the businessman Zharov, and about the village of Vyatskoye, in some places is not true. As they say - for what he bought, for that he sold. In general, a well done businessman, he develops his native land. After all, as practice shows, most of our rich people buy villas abroad, apartments in Dubai, and dump them to live over the hill.
We present to your attention the top 10 most picturesque villages in the world. Here we go…
Bibury, England
The English village of Bibury is located in Gloucestershire. It has been repeatedly recognized as the most beautiful and most English village in the world by various artists and poets. The cozy houses of the 17th century really seem to have descended from a fairy-tale illustration. The village itself is much older - the first mention of this settlement dates back to the 11th century. Despite its popularity with tourists, public transport still does not run in Bibury, and to get here you need to take a train at London Paddington Station, get to Kemble Station, and then only by taxi. 
Shirakawa-go, Japan
This picturesque village is on the list world heritage UNESCO. Here you can admire the wonderful houses with triangular roofs, built in the style of "gassho", and also the castle of Ogimachi, which is located near the village. Tourists are brought here by a regular bus. 
Wengen, Switzerland
The views of this Swiss village at any time of the year resemble fairy-tale scenery. Indigenous people The village has a little over a thousand people. But for each local resident there are from 5 to 10 tourists depending on the season, so it is always crowded here. Here is the famous ski resort and the amazing Kriegsloch Cave, which is said to be able to foretell the approach of war. It is forbidden to drive ordinary cars here so as not to spoil the purest mountain air. But there are always many environmentally friendly electric vehicles at the service of tourists. 
Ezze, France
This picturesque village stands on the shore mediterranean sea. For many centuries, incessant wars have been waged here, and in the village itself, a variety of cultures have mixed. All this gave rise to a completely unique architectural ensemble, which, together with stunning landscapes, today attracts a lot of tourists from all over the world. 
Zaanse Schans, Holland
Unlike modern Amsterdam, the village of Zaanse Schans still retains its original original face. There are also typical 17th century houses and famous windmills, creating a real "Dutch" landscape. Here they sell wonderful natural cheese, beautiful painted porcelain and traditional wooden shoes.
Pariangan, West Sumatra
The picturesque streets of this Minangkabau village are literally at the foot of active volcano Merapi, which has erupted almost 40 times over the past 200 years. The dangerous neighborhood makes the impression of beautiful landscapes especially strong. 
Savoca, Sicily
This village with a thousand-year history is well known to fans of the book and the film "The Godfather", because the events reproduced in the film were filmed here. Here you can visit the Bar Vitelli and the famous Capuchin Monastery, where the most famous crypt is located, in which over fifty bodies of local nobility and clergy have been stored for centuries, naturally mummified in the catacombs. 
Cua Van, Vietnam
The main treasure of this small fishing village is the incredible beauty of the surrounding landscapes. Small houses supported by rafts stand literally on the water in the Ha Long bay surrounded by huge cliffs. The village school is located in one of these raft houses, and students come to it by boat. To see all the beauties of this village, tourists also have to hire a boat. 
Caleta Tortel, Chile
The small village of Caleta Tortel has the glory of "Chilean Venice". True, there are no stone palaces and majestic bridges here, but there are many picturesque wooden houses towering on stilts and connected to each other by a whole web of light suspension bridges, and sometimes just stairs. For obvious reasons, it is impossible to travel here by road. 
Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia
All the buildings in this Tunisian village have the traditional colors of bright white walls and sky blue shutters and gates. Against the backdrop of the dazzling blue of the Gulf of Tunis, the village looks just fine. Many representatives of creative professions constantly rest here, and many tourist companies offer day trips here.
