Some travellers love large, lavish cities. However, there is a special intimacy that comes with travelling to smaller, quaint towns.
The world has more small towns than you’d expect, and many of them have populations you’ll find humorous. While they might not have much of a social scene to offer, they have a stillness that you can’t find anywhere else.
You’ll find interesting histories, extraordinary stories, and unbelievable views in places like these.
Here are some of the world’s smallest towns:
Monowi, Nebraska
Population: 1
In this town you’ll find 84-year-old Elsie Eiler, who is the towns mayor, treasurer, tavern owner, and much more. She was previously accompanied by her husband who was the second citizen of the town, but unfortunately he passed on in 2004.
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Valley City, Illinois
Population: 13
Only three families form the entire community in this town, Valley City falls on the Illinois River.
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Fenwick, Connecticut
Population: 44
This quaint, coastal old town was previously the home of Hollywood actress, Katherine Hepburn.
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Simiane-la-Rotonde, France
Population: 592
This hilltop village is like nothing you’ve ever seen. With incredible views of lavender fields, a medieval castle and rich architectural heritage, the town is a feast for the eyes. It feels quite untouched, as not much has changed since the 17th century. In fact, the market is about 500-years-old.
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Hallstatt, Austria
Population: 779
The scenery is mind-blowing in the narrow Alpine town of Hallstatt. From timber houses and Baroque architecture, to the Dachstein Mountains and the Austrian Alps you won’t know where to lay your eyes first!
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Shirakawa-go, Japan
Population: 1,630
During the winter, the gingerbread-looking houses in this town are covered with snow and in the summer you can see them for what they really are: thatched-roof gassho-zukuri buildings.
Shirakawa-go was named a UNESO World Heritage site in 1995. It is found along a river atop a mountain.
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Image: Instragram / eyesofvoyager
