30 charming European villages almost too cute to be real

Picture yourself in a quaint European village. You're wandering around aimlessly, taking in your surroundings, when you stumble across a narrow, cobblestone road. Colorful cottages cluster around the zig-zagging path. You can almost see donkey-drawn carts stuffed with flowers and veggies rumbling along the narrow street and smell freshly baked bread wafting from open shop windows.

Did you think of Italy? Or perhaps Switzerland or the Czech Republic?

These postcard-perfect scenes can be found in towns and cities across Europe, reminding you just how long the idyllic little village has captured the public's imagination.

Today, many of the secrets are out and travelers are flocking to find a hidden slice of Europe to call their own. It takes strategic planning and some Photoshop skills to make it look like you have the five fishing villages that make up Cinque Terre in Italy to yourself. However others, like Monschau, Germany, are still largely outside of the typical tourist's consciousness.

The quest to find enchanting architecture and breathtaking views can feel simple abroad, but it's still hard to believe these beautifully-preserved towns are real homes to real people, and not a rotating cast of Disney theme park characters.

Click through to find winsome little towns that have stood the test of time: