Some of Europe’s prettiest villages look as though they’ve fallen right out of a book of fairytales.
The gorgeous village of Saint-Ursanne in Switzerland sits on the banks of the Doubs River and has incredibly well-preserved medieval buildings.
In 2023, it was named one of the world’s best tourism villages by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
Saint-Ursanne is one of Switzerland’s prettiest villages and it’s not hard to see why the beautiful spot made the list.
So what is there to do in Saint-Ursanne?
Described as the ‘pearl’ of Switzerland’s Jura region, Saint-Ursanne is surrounded by lush forest.
The Pont St Jean bridge is one of the only ways to access the village and its top-rated attraction on Tripadvisor.
A tourist wrote on the review platform: “The Pont St-Jean is one of the highlights giving a beautiful view of the old walls of the town and the Le Doub river.”
The Cloitre of St-Ursanne is a beautiful historic church with pretty cloistered walks to explore and dates back to the 13th century.
St-Ursanne is packed with antique boutiques and art galleries so keep an eye out for a souvenir.
The village’s medieval garden displays plants formerly used for medicinal purposes as well as vegetables.
While the pretty village has plenty of sights to explore, it’s also a great base for some of Switzerland’s outdoor activities.
Tourists can try canoeing, fishing or paragliding in the surrounding nature or go for a cycle in the forest.
The closest airport to Saint-Ursanne is Basel which is around an hour’s drive or train ride from the village.