Welcome to Holašovice, a tiny village in South Bohemia so picturesque you'd think it was designed by a crazy architect with a penchant for peasant baroque. With its colorful facades, ornate gables, and grazing sheep, it's been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998—and a paradise for anyone longing for "19th-century village life" (but with WiFi, please).
1. Why does Holašovice look like a picture?
Peasant baroque at its finest: The houses are adorned with pastel-colored facades, playful ornaments, and flower boxes—as if someone had illustrated a fairytale book.
Uniform design: Almost all of the farms date back to the 19th century and were built in a similar style—the "village trend" at the time.
Fun Fact: Back then, residents called the style "Bauernschick" (peasant chic) – today we'd say "rustic, but Instagrammable."
2. A Village with a Dramatic History
Almost extinct: In the 16th century, the plague wiped out almost all of its inhabitants – only two survivors remained.
Revived: German settlers rebuilt the village – hence the name "Holašovice" (derived from the German "Holleischen").
Today: Just 140 residents, but thousands of tourists every year stroll through the streets in amazement.
3. What's there to see?
The village square: Surrounded by the most beautiful farmhouses – perfect for photos that look like they've fallen out of a time machine.
The "Bauernbarock" (Peasant Baroque) Museum: Here you can learn how to "ornate" a house – or why everyone used to want a turquoise-blue pigsty.
The chapel: tiny but beautiful – with a bell tower that looks like it belongs in a miniature park.