Stein am Rhein, Switzerland

The little town of Stein am Rhein can be found where Lake Constance once more merges with the Rhine River. It is renowned for having an Old Town with painted facades and half-timbered homes that have been preserved, for which it was given the first Wakker Prize.

The main street of Stein am Rhein recalls a stage set for Hansel and Gretel due to the town's well-kept half-timbered buildings and the vibrant paintings painted on their facades. But in addition to being one of the most stunning villages in all of Europe, it is also a real town with unique medieval architecture. Around the Rhine, whose banks the town stretches so picturesquely, are other timber-frame structures. Visit Hohenklingen Castle, which was built in 1225 and serves as a museum of regional history, for an overview - literally, as it sits high above the town. The former Benedictine abbey, built in the eleventh century, has another museum, but the entire town is gorgeous.