Often hailed as Switzerland’s most beautiful town square (no mean feat!), the elongated Rathausplatz in Stein am Rhein often elicits little gasps of wonder because it's so darned ornate. The fresco-festooned Rathaus (town hall) soars above the 16th-century houses named after their elaborate murals, such as Sonne (Sun) and Der Weisse Adler (The White Eagle). Look up a level and you'll notice that many also sport intricately carved oriel windows and billowing flower boxes. It's pure fairy-tale stuff.
Shutterstock / Gaid Kornsilapa