11Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

Although it’s really a city, Český Krumlov’s beautifully preserved Old Town is a village of its own, cosseted inside its walls and caught in the curve of the Vltava River.

Almost hidden beneath the steeply gabled roofs is a maze of narrow stone-paved streets surrounding the 13th-century castle. Like the town itself, this medieval complex shows styles from the Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque eras.

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