15 MOST Spectacular Hilltop Towns

Hilltop towns are as close as you’ll get to stepping into a fairytale. With the amazing views from the top, the histories that reach back through centuries, and breathtaking architecture, some of them truly were homes to princes and princesses. And yet, they’re all still inhabited! Pretty cool. So join us for today’s video, where we countdown the top 15 most spectacular hilltop towns!

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hey everyone Hilltop towns are as close as you’re going to get to stepping into a fairy tale with amazing views from the top and histories that reach back through the centuries I’m counting down the 15 most spectacular Hilltop towns let’s start with number 15 mon Michelle in France m Michelle a tidal Island and commune in Normandy France stands as a Marvel of medieval architecture it’s located just over a mile off France’s Northwestern Coast at the mouth of the kuson river it covers an area of about 7 he tears and Rises dramatically from the bay its position made it accessible to pilgrims at low tide and defensible against Invaders the islands Abbey which is a UNESCO world heritage site since 1979 attracts over 3 million people annually now the Romanesque church here at its heart was designed by William ofip piano in the 11th century with its impressive structure supported by underground CPS and chapels in the 12th century it was fortified and the building added main facade of the church the gothic style was introduced after a destructive fire in 1274 its landscape shaped by rising sea levels and erosion features Granite outcrops that have resisted the ocean the fortifications were further enhanced by Charles I 6 who added Towers Courtyards and strengthened the ramp parts today it remains a Vibrant Community with tourism as its primary economic driver generating substantial revenue from the millions of visitors this unique blend of natural resilience architectural Ingenuity and historical significance makes this place an enduring symbol of French heritage despite its small permanent population though the island thrives as a tourist destination its numerous shops and the nightly presence of monks and a few residents maintaining this Hilltop Town withstand not just the test of time but the tides too number 14 movon Croatia movon a village in municipality in Central istria in Croatia stands about 890 ft above sea level offering views and a Rich historical tapestry its Origins Trace back to ancient times when the Kelts and alyans built fortresses on this hill giving the village its name derived from the Celtic word montona meaning a town in the Hills the panana a Narrow Gauge Railway operated from 1902 to 1935 once passed below the town marking an important phase in its history in the 10th and 11th centuries it belonged to the bishop of pork before being taken over by Venice in 1278 now its archit Ure is showcasing a blend of Romanesque Gothic and Renaissance Styles evident in its Tower City Gates and internal and external fortifications the late Renaissance Church of St Steven constructed in the early 17th century and likely designed by renowned architect Andrea padio contains remarkable artworks including marble Statues by Franchesco bonazzo and 17th century painting of The Last Supper by an unknown Venetian artist movon is also celebrated in istrian culture as the home of V Jose a gentle giant from the stories by nationalist writer Vladimir nazor this character rooted in local folklore symbolizes the Croatian struggle for equality with the potentially dominant German and Italian communities in the early 20th century number 13 sanim minano Italy Sanji minano a small walled medieval Hilltown in Tuscany Sienna province is renowned for its well-preserved medieval architecture it’s known as the town of fine Towers it offers a remarkable glimpse into the past with its array of Romanesque and Gothic structures its historic Center is a UNESCO world heritage site which features notable secular buildings and churches like The Palazo communale the Collegiate Church and the Church of santagostino all adorned with frescos from the 14th and 15th centuries Sanji minano is also celebrated for its saffron golden ham peino cheese and a unique white wine produced from the ancient grapes grown on local Sandstone hillsides encircled by three layers of walls the town’s layout includes eight entrances set into the second wall from the 12th and 13th centuries the main thoroughfares Via San Mato and Via San Giovani Traverse from the north to the South and at the heart of this are four Central squares some of which date back to the 1300s it also has a wealth of Romanesque and Gothic architecture including medieval fortifications and distinct domestic buildings now romanes structures are marked by round arches while goth Gothic buildings feature pointed arches both often displaying bifurcate Windows a distinctive architectural trait from the Sienna region is the use of depressed arches over doorways sometimes with a secondary Arch beneath Civic buildings like the communal Palace house galleries with works by notable Artists number 12 Oya Santorini Greece Oya a Charming Village on the islands of Thea and thasia in the cides Greece is a picturesque destination known for its views and unique architecture since the 2011 local government reform Oya has been part of the municipality of Santorini covering the entire island of thasia and the Northwestern part of Santorini The Village has a population of just over a thousand people as of 2021 census and it spans an area of just over 19 Square kilm now historically it’s known as aano Marium oya’s economic Prosperity peaked in the late 19th and early 20th centuries driven by its Merchant Fleet that traded extensively in the Eastern Med Oya is perched on the slopes of the Caldera featuring narrow passageways and a Central Square this Village is famous for its whitewashed buildings Blue Dome churches and traditional cycladic houses carved into the Rock This unique architecture includes two-story Captain’s houses which is an example of The Village’s affluent past partially destroyed by the 1956 earthquake but still impressive the Main Street winds through the village providing a Scenic Trek along the caldera’s edge this cobbled path is a popular route for visitors exploring The Village’s narrow often congested passageways its elevated position at about 500 ft above sea level offers a panoramic view of the pum and naaki volcanoes on the island of theia earning at the nickname Eagle’s Nest number 11 aay France aay is a Scenic Seaside commune on the French Riviera it lies between nce and Monaco it stretches from the Mediterranean Sea to a medieval village perched at top a hill this area was first inhabited around 200 BC near Mount basti notable historical finds include ancient Greek silver F from the 3rd Century BC now in the British museum over time the area saw Roman and moish occupations with the Moors driven out by William of provance in 973 in 1388 the house of seavoy fortified it due to its strategic location near n The Village has faced various sieges including those by the French and Turkish troops in 1543 and the destru of its Walls by Louis the 14th in 1706 a became part of France in April of 1860 by popular vote The Village sits about 1,400 ft above sea level offering views of the med the light ochre church built in 1764 is visible from afar and inside an Egyptian cross hints at The Village’s ancient Roots possibly linked to a Phoenician Temple dedicated to Isis as is known for its breathtaking sea views particularly from the Jardin botanic Des which features is a collection of cacti and succulents Walt Disney was among its notable visitors The Village’s oldest building a chapel dates back to 1306 and serve the white penitence of aay during the plague outbreaks The Village’s past is evident in the Bell turret’s design and should make perfect sense that it’s an incredibly popular tourist destination number 10 Medina Malta Medina is a fortified City in the northern region of Malta it served as the Island’s capital from Antiquity into the medieval period the city with a population of about 250 is still confined within its walls and is contiguous with the town of rabbot which has over 11,000 residents as of March 2014 Medina dates back to prehistory with evidence of habitation in the area known since around ancient times around the 8th Century BC the Phoenicians established a colony known as an which shared its name with the island and likely served as its capital the Romans took control during the Punic War renaming the city Mita name derived from the Greek and Latin names for the island Greco Roman Mita was significantly larger than present day Medina but its size was reduced during the Byzantine or Arab rule after a massacre in the 9th century the area was largely abandoned until it was reestablished in the 11th century as Medina from which its current name is derived Medina continues as malta’s capital under the order of St John who arrived in 1530 and shifted the capital to bergu the city experienced a decline but saw Revival in the early 18th century with the construction of several Baroque buildings notable landmarks in Medina include the domus Romana where the ruins of Roman era houses contain well preserved mosaics statues and other artifacts an extensive restoration of Medina’s City walls was completed between 2008 and 2016 the city features a mix of Norman and Baroque architecture including several palaces that serve as private homes many of which are handed down every generation number nine chivita debano Regio Chita debano Regio is an outlying Village in the commun of benio in the province of vbo in central Italy it’s situated about a half mile east of the town and about 75 miles north of Rome the village is accessible only by a foot Bridge from a nearby town with a toll introduced in 2013 as a result of this toll communal taxes were abolished in chivita and Beno reio due to its unstable found which frequently erodes it’s also famously known as the dying City the Region’s morphology is shaped by erosion and landslides and the territory consists of two different rock formations the older formation is Clay originating from the sea and forming the base layer which is particularly prone to erosion the upper layers consist of tough and lava material but rapid erosion is caused by streams and Atmospheric agents and deforestation it’s inhabited by only 16 people and it’s situated at in a remote area and is reachable only by a reinforced concrete pedestrian bridge built in 1995 now while this bridge is generally restricted to pedestrians residents and workers are allowed to Cross by bike or motorcycle at specific times The Village’s isolation is due to the progressive erosion of the hill and the nearby Valley which creates bad lands this ongoing erosion poses a threat to The Village’s existence earning at the nickname the dying Town number eight holat Austria holat is a small town in the district of gundan in the Austrian state of Upper Austria it’s situated between the southwestern shore of the hutter Sea and the steep slopes of the duckstein massive the town lies on the National Road connecting Saltsburg and Gratz holat is renowned for its ancient salt production dating back to prehistoric times which gave its name to the holot culture this archaeological culture is associated with the Proto Celtic and early Celtic people of the early Iron Age in Europe around 800 to 450 BC holat is the heart of the cultural landscape which was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1997 the town has since become an example of over tourism due to its popularity until the late 19th century It could only be reached by boat or narrow trails and the land between the lake and mountains was limited and the town made use of every available space access between houses along the riverbank was by boat or via an upper path a a small Corridor passing through the attics the first road to holat was constructed in 1890 along the western shore partially by blasting through the rock it is one of the earliest places of human settlement thanks to its abundant natural salt resources which have been mined for thousands of years originally the salt was extracted using antler picks giving the mine salt its heart-shaped form the mine also just happens to be the oldest working salt mine in the world moving on to number seven body gashin Austria bod gashin a spa town in the St Johan impanga District of Austria is beautifully situated in the High Valley of the ho Tower mountain range it’s known for its amazing views and waterfall and its Grand Hotel buildings bod gashin travels along the Upper gashin Valley following the gashin achek creek this Valley divides the ankogel group to the east from The Goldberg group to the West in the ho tow range the Town Center is positioned at the waterfall approximately 3,300 ft above sea level now this remote Valley was initially settled by Bavarian peasants in the 9th century with some Southern Parts also showing signs of Slavic settlement gashin first mentioned as Gana in 963 was part of the German stem duy of Bavaria and initially known for Alpine farming and gold mining in 1297 Duke Otto III and his brother Steven I sold it to the Archbishop of salsburg due to heavy debts the spas of bod gashin were visited by notable figures like Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III and Renaissance physician paracelsus the town’s name bod means Spa highlighting its history as a health resort by the 18th century the hot springs also known as the vad became a popular Spa destination oddly enough bod gushin is also known for its winter sports it hosted the 1958 World Championships in Alpine skiing and regularly features the snowboarding and bordercross World Cup the ski resort part of the larger ski Network off is 125 Mi of downhill slopes across four ski areas in the gashin valley number six Zahara Spain Zahara De La Sierra is a picturesque municipality in the province of kadiz nestled in the hills of Andalusia in Northern Spain it’s perched at top a mountain and it offers amazing views of a valley and a man-made lake formed by a dam which must be crossed to access the town Sahara De La Sierra is known as one of the Pueblos Blancos or white towns due to its predominantly white buildings historically the town served as a Moorish Outpost strategically positioned between Ronda and sevil making it an ideal location for a castle to function the remains of this moish Castle are still standing today Sahara de laara was under Arab rule until 1407 briefly recaptured by the Emirate of Granada in 1481 which led to the castile’s war against Granada castillan troops led by Rodrigo ponon Duke of Kad finally captured it in 1483 the town is a gateway to Nature and its purest forms situated within a national park a UNESCO biosphere Reserve this area is Rich with caves grottos and Gorges various routs lead to Natural monuments such as the gargant Verde located Just 4 miles from Zahara within the municipality nature offers more unique spectacles such as the Spanish fur forest in the Town Center this Forest dating back to the quary period have survived to the present day coexisting with strawberry trees and home Oaks enriching the landscape and purifying the air the area is crisscrossed with trails and routes inviting exploration as Walkers Traverse these paths they might encounter dormies weasels and golden foxes hiding in their dens lizards and snakes lurk in the underbrush while Eagles and vultures soar above along the river banks and streams crabs and salamanders Thrive and the waterways here are home to trout and marbles number five orvietto Italy orvietto is a city and commune in the province of K it’s located in Western Umbria in Italy the city sits at top a flat Summit of a large but made of volcanic tough Rising above the nearly vertical tough Cliffs that are further fortified by defensive walls built from the same Stone this ancient city has been inhabited since rusin times orvietto is often associated with rusen velna although some Modern Scholars disagree it was undoubtedly a significant Center of at truscan civilization the city’s archaeological Museum Museo clo in musio civico houses numerous at truscan artifacts in the area and one notable Discovery from the oreto necropolis is a tomb with the inscription mes katas meaning I am ail of Kina this inscription indicates the tomb’s occupant had an at truscan Latin first name alus and a Celtic derived family name suggesting complex and peaceful ethnic relations in ancient Italy the city perched on its impregnable Rock controlled crucial roads between Florence and Rome where it crossed the chayana river by the end of the 13th century it was a large town with a population of around 30,000 oreto governed itself through a podesta often the bishop acting alongside a military Governor or the captain of the people the 13th century saw the city at its peak of wealth but frequently in conflict with the papacy even coming under interdiction Pope Urban ivth stayed in order of it though from 1262 to 1264 beneath the city lies a labyr of over 12,000 tunnels galleries Wells stairs quaries cellers passageways cisterns and superimposed rooms with niches for Pigeon roosts all carved into the tough Rock these tunnels initially dug for practical reasons were also used by noble families as secret Escape Routes during sieges number four mons port Portugal Monas is a civil Parish in the municipality of Renos de Monas situated right on the bank of the guadiana river in 2011 its population was 782 covering an area of approximately 34 square miles the hilltop of monadas has always been of strategic importance due to its prominent position and proximity to the deep valley this area has been in continuous occupation since prehistoric times with evidence of habitation including hundreds of megalithic monuments the hill on which monadas is located was originally a prehistoric fortification known as a Castro which served as a basis for pre-roman occupation funerary temples during the Roman occupation Monas was reorganized and it was subsequently occupied by various groups including the Visigoths the Arabs MOS Arabs Jews and Christians loyal to Alfonso henrique after the Reconquista in the 8th Century Arab forces occupied monadas renaming it saris or sarish under the control of the typa of B Jo the name mon Saras is derived from the word zarz or zerz the Iberian transliteration of the Arabic sarish or sarish referring to the gum Rock Rose a plant that thrives in the dry acidic soil in 1167 the castle was taken by Heraldo Sam peror during an expedition from evora which had recently been retaken however after defeat monadas fell back into Muslim hands in 1232 King Sancho II with the support of the Knights Templar definitively retook this Citadel and the town placing it under Templar control the Christian repopulation of monadas concluded around the reign of Alfonso III when the Knight martim anas was appointed a leadership role after the Portuguese internum which lasted from 1383 to 1385 monserez became part of the House of branza under Novo Alvarez Pereira by 1412 it was inherited by his son Fernando becoming one of the most valuable assets in the duala states in 1512 King Manuel of Portugal issued his Royal approval to monsaraz reformulating the public and jurisdictional administration of the municipality and setting the stage for what we see today number three Leu provance Village France leod provance is a rural commune located in the bch Duron Department in the province Alps cotour region of Southern France the village is perched at top a rocky outcrop in the mountains Northeast of arlay and is crowned with a ruined Castle overlooking the Southern Plains its name Leo derives from the provincial word Bush meaning Rocky spur the term boite for aluminum ore was coined after geologist Pierre berier discovered the or here in 1821 until August 1958 the commune was officially known as labo well renowned for its historical significance and picturesque Beauty this place attracts over 1 and a half million people annually only though about 20 residents live in the upper part of the commune the Strategic location here here has made it an attractive site for habitation since prehistoric times with traces of habitation dating all the way back to 6000 BC the Costa Pera cave discovered in 1928 contains a collective of burial grounds from the early Bronze Age the site was used by the Kelts as a fort around the 2 Century BC with peripheral areas developing early during the Middle Ages the stronghold of a feudal domain covering 79 towns and Villages this was a fortress constructed from the 11th to 13th century spans 7 hectares leod provance is situated in the foothills of the air within the national park approximately 13.7 M south of ainon and 92 mil Northeast of ARA the commune can be accessed via the d27 road in the South which passes through the village and continues North to join the d99 East other roads such as the D5 and d27 a also connect to neighboring areas number two gourd France Gord is a stunning Hilltop commune located in the vus department in the kotur region in Southeastern France residents here are known as gordian nearby major cities include aen with smaller cities such as cavalon and apt also close in proximity gourd spans a series of mountains and hills and extends into the Calon Valley also referred to as the luberon valley it covers over 4,800 hectares and it’s one of the largest communes in the area the northern part includes the southern edge of the vuse mountains with the highest point at about about 2100 ft the southern part of the commune features the calom valley and several Hills with the lowest elevation at just about 365 ft in the plain Roman occupation left a significant mark on the area evident from the Roman Road connecting AP and carpent and various Gallow Roman remains such as those found in the Boose district and the substructures of the Hamlet of leg Gro after World War II it began attracting visitors like Mark shagal and Jean der rol who brought friends such as Sergey polov Victor raser and Jean Deans to the Village the nearby Abbey and Village a village of dry Stone Huts now serving as a museum are significant attractions too the area also includes several ancient hamlets named after local families or their activities such as Le ere Le Gro and Le Martin the largest hamlet lamb features an 18th century church and various 18th century architectural details tourism plays a huge role here in a gord’s economy with numerous hotels bed and breakfast seasonal rentals and restaurants catering to visitors number one bled Slovenia bled located in the upper Carolian region of Southwestern Slovenia is a picturesque town on the shores of Lake bled this town renowned for its stunning scenery and popular with tourists from around the world was first mentioned in written sources as elz in the year 10:04 and as Valdez in 1011 the exact origin of the name bled is unknown but it’s believed to predate Slavic influences the German name Valdez may have been derived from old sloven Bel before ad 800 or from the same pre-s Slavic source as the sloven name situated at the southern foot of the karawanks mountain range bled lies near the Austrian border about 31 Mi Northwest of slovenia’s capital south of Lake bled are the densely forested plateaus as well as the easternmost parts of the Julian Alps this area includes the Sava binka River and parallel Bonin Railway leading to the boin Basin Lake bojin and the tri massive the lake itself is 1.3 Mi long and half a mile wide in the summer the surface water of the lake warms up until Autumn making it suitable for swimming during the colder Winters though the lake freezes over allowing for ice skating and the island can be reached on foot in the year 104 King Henry II granted ownership of the area to the bishop of brixen in recognition of the church’s support in 1011 Henry II further extended this donation to include the castle and additional lands which came to be known as the lordship of Valdez for the next 800 years bled remained under the control of the prince Bishops of brixen cut to nearly a thousand years later and after the dissolution of Austria Hungary in 1918 bled became part of the kingdom of Yugoslavia and served as a summer residence for the ruling house this tradition continued under Yugoslav Leader Joseph bro Tito who built his residence there in 1947 by selling land along the Eastern Lakes Shore to affluent individuals for their Villas these Villages began to coales and bled was officially designated a town in 1960 thanks for watching everyone I’ll see you next time thank you to our channel members