12 Most Beautiful Lakeside Towns and Villages (5 of 7)

Yvoire, France

This medieval hamlet overlooking Lake Geneva routinely makes the list of most beautiful villages in France, and once you go there, you’ll understand why. The centerpiece is the Château d’Yvoire, a remarkably preserved castle that was built in the 14th century. The summer is the best time to come, as that’s when the village covers its stone buildings with elaborate floral displays.

Grasmere, Ambleside, UK

The English Romantic poet William Wordsworth, a resident of Grasmere, boasted that it was the loveliest place that man has ever found. Today, as you stroll around the village, you can visit his humble home, known as Dove Cottage, enjoy a pint at the pub, or go on a hike in the direction of Lake Grasmere.