Telc

Telč exists because of a fire and a nobleman with good taste. After the original town burned in 1530, Zachariáš of Hradec rebuilt the main square in a unified Italian Renaissance style — pastel facades with sgraffito decorations, arcaded ground floors, and gabled rooftops that create one of the most harmonious urban spaces in Europe. UNESCO agreed, listing the entire historic center.

The square is the experience. Walk the arcades, sit at one of the outdoor cafés, and watch the light change on facades painted in pale blues, yellows, greens, and pinks. The chateau at one end is worth exploring for its Renaissance halls and the English-style park behind it. Three fishponds surround the old town, creating reflections that double the beauty on still mornings. Telč is small — you can see everything in half a day — but the temptation to stay, to sit, to simply look, is considerable.

When to go: Late spring through early autumn. Summer weekends bring Czech day-trippers; weekday mornings are serene.