What types of villages could one find in your country?

11 comments

1. A traditional village in my area (Franconia) would look something like [this](https://img.fotocommunity.com/ein-fraenkisches-dorf-89a8252e-39d9-40ea-bea3-bb13cbb550cf.jpg?height=1080). A church with a big priests house and oftentimes a graveyard next to it and a collection of farms around it. The farms usually consist of the main house, barns and stables arranged in a rectangle that’s open on one side with a tree in the middle (more often than not a walnut tree).

   However that image is slowly changing and more and more traditional houses are replaced by standard single family homes…

2. [This article](https://www.vagamundos.pt/aldeias-mais-bonitas-de-portugal/) from a travel blog showcases some villages from the northern, centre, Tagus valley, Alentejo, and Algarve regions of the country. You can see how the style of buildings differ depending on the region. I’m more familiar with the white building style, and in my region (Algarve) there is a particular architectural element found in quite a few buildings, known as the platibanda. [This article](https://www.sulinformacao.pt/2018/03/imagens-de-um-singular-algarve-as-platibandas/) showcases some, and the photographer published a book compiling a ton of different examples of said feature.

3. Most of our villages are just administrative units that is a common location name to a bunch of spread-out houses. No shops, no schools, no library, [nothing](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Kuri_bussipeatus.jpg/1024px-Kuri_bussipeatus.jpg) but forest, fields, a bus stop and 5-50 private households that often have a sauna and a shed etc. (Some villages do have main streets where houses are closer together, that look like [this](https://www.nordicexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/AdobeStock_82824061-640×427.jpeg) and [this](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Ilpla_k%C3%BClavahetee.jpg/800px-Ilpla_k%C3%BClavahetee.jpg) in the west and [that](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Varnja_village_in_Estonia_2021.jpg/1200px-Varnja_village_in_Estonia_2021.jpg) and [that](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/Varnja.JPG) on the east side.)

   The most typical old old houses look [something among those lines](https://www.kv.ee/uut-pererahvast-ootab-avar-rehielamu-privaatses-as-3379986.html). These are old long one-storey log buildings, that have rooms on one part and animal shed in the other part (that other part might be made from stone). The house might be bare logs like the first link, but is more often finished with planks, [yellow](https://kv.img-bcg.eu/image/object/34/4742/42894742.jpg) and [dark red](https://kv.img-bcg.eu/image/object/35/6920/41866920.jpg) are common. The land plot with the house is ca 1ha, usually you have additional field/forest land, too. Original roofs had [thatching](https://www.kv.ee/muua-suureparane-kolmest-hoonest-koosnev-suvilakom-3279465.html), but they are usually replaced with (/added) asbestos-cement-style stuff or metal roofs.

   From the late 19th and early 20th century, they look like [this](https://kv.img-bcg.eu/image/object/4/8654/102578654.jpg) or even [this](https://kv.img-bcg.eu/image/object/51/0871/38700871.jpg) if they were originally fancier and like [that](https://www.kv.ee/muua-jogevamaal-looduskaunis-privaatse-asukohaga-k-3396883.html) if they were simpler. So wooden, often 1.5 storey ones.

   In big villages, you can have mid-20th century ones that [overall look like town houses](https://kinnisvara24.delfi.ee/maja-myyk-muhu-vald/240363059) and might [display](https://s1.kv24.ee/uploads/a1/large/9b82fde0-db22-476e-b021-0c14f96fddd5.jpg) the original silicate finishing. Some photos of [60s interiors](https://kodu.ohtuleht.ee/1035519/retromeenutus-aastast-1966-avatud-uksed-silikaat-tellistest-kolhoosimajja) are here.

   New houses have two main styles and look like [this with planks](https://kv.img-bcg.eu/image/object/51/1653/66891653.jpg) or [this with plaster](https://kv.img-bcg.eu/image/object/51/0224/67990224.jpg), though summer cottages can be [log houses](https://c24ee.img-bcg.eu/object/1_24_7654074868.jpg).

4. Here are characteristic villages from the Algarve ([Alte](https://www.algarveprimeiro.com/files/resizes/detalhes/-files-images-img_5967bab09f0e1.jpg)) ([São Marcos da Serra](http://algarve-portal.com/imgs/uploads/Sao-Marcos-CRD.jpg)). They are usually surrounded by farm fields or grazing fields, and are usually located on hillsides ([Bordeira](http://www.sulinformacao.pt/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Bordeira_01.jpg)) ([Odeceixe](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/N%C3%BAcleo_urbano_da_vila_de_Odeceixe_%281%29.jpg)). The houses are white to reflect the sunlight ([Alcoutim in Portugal and Salúncar in Spain](https://discoverportugal2day.com/wp-content/uploads/alcoutim-2.jpg)), keeping the house cool during the very hot summers. Villages on or near the coast will usually have fortifications, which were used to protect the populations from attacks from pirates from Northern Africa ([Cacela Velha](https://wetravelportugal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Cacela-Velha-1024×768.jpg)), and located near or on the beach for easy access to the sea ([Carvoeiro](https://www.iberian-escapes.com/images/carvoeiro-town-ok.jpg)).

   Villages in the Alentejo follow the same general pattern, though architecture is a little bit different, but not that much [(Porto Covo](https://discoverportugal2day.com/wp-content/uploads/portocovo2.jpg)) ([Santa Susana](https://www.nit.pt/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/02663743-d578-41bc-8df4-c64272846dc0-754×394.jpg)). Some villages tend to be more spread out ([Hermidas do Sado](https://discoverportugal2day.com/wp-content/uploads/portocovo2.jpg)) while others are more compact ([Ourique](https://www.guiadacidade.pt/assets/capas_poi/capa_14698.jpg)). They’re usually surrounded by fields for grazing or with orchards, olive trees or cork oaks. Villages here also tend to be on hilltops and fortified when close to the spanish border ([Évora Monte](https://www.viagensecaminhos.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/vista-aerea-evora-monte.jpg)) ([Monsaraz](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/55c0e95de4b0e8f069874030/1438725103724-BAXQBECU8NGBAHSS9EG1/Monsaraz.jpg?content-type=image%2Fjpeg)). When located on the coast, they tend to be on top of the cliffs, but close to a beach ([Zambujeira do Mar](https://www.viagensecaminhos.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/praia-zambujeira-do-mar.jpg))

   The regions of Ribatejo and the Tagus Valley have a lot of industry, so villages on these regions tend to be more industrial-looking ([Azambuja](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iYxU-H79TZ0/XBInltNPQdI/AAAAAAAA5nM/LTscyL9DoRQ1BrkQHnd3lnpLnbj6O_bUwCLcBGAs/s1600/Azambuja%2B9.jpg)) ([Arruda dos Vinhos](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5d/Arruda_dos_Vinhos_-_Portugal_%2835082761694%29.jpg)). But more tradicional looking villages can still be found ([Torres Novas](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/Torres_Novas_-_Vista_geral.JPG)), though even these have some more modern elements. Further away from the industrial centers, you can find more traditional villages, specially north of Lisbon. These thend to have palaces where royalty and nobles spent their summers ([Mafra](https://www.nacionalidadeportuguesa.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1-2.jpg)) ([Vila Velha de Sintra](https://www.allaboutportugal.pt/imagethumb/1700x/resize/766913)). Coastal villages are also very good looking, and famous during the summer ([Azenhas do Mar](https://offloadmedia.feverup.com/lisboasecreta.co/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/16112323/azenhas-do-mar-portugal.jpg)).

   Further inland, in the Beira Interior, we find the famous “Aldeias de Xisto”, or Schist Villages. The name is self explanatory ([Talasnal](https://thumbs.web.sapo.io/?W=800&H=0&delay_optim=1&epic=MzBh+0TSlq2EnN1ygK5bBiPOj+oZZ0TYsytNGaWrQONfJ5zEO8npftsEpoc3qq1HVtnzgO59ipzpivt4myjS43d4svaUswz3EsFrEMhC6AiyFcg=)) ([Piódão](https://borealis.pt/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/borealis-piod%C3%A3o-aldeia-xisto-beiras-inverno-pres%C3%A9pio-portugal-borealis-on-trekking.jpg)) ([Fajão](https://thumbs.web.sapo.io/?W=800&H=0&delay_optim=1&epic=MzAxInBJSQj96XYsLb7LltPXXbwFg/dgsllDXAe9ku81FSwaORWzU6o8KT7C7NTuUwsgRfp12tg64Lbki7CJEmt7nRYWkj8pvObyslQoLBJg4ss=)). Surrounded by nature and hills, they are part of a protected network of historical villages. Villages tend to be more stoney ([Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo](https://foodandtravelportugal.pt/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/geral.jpg)) ([Penedono](https://passaportenobolso.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/penedono.jpg)). [Monsanto](https://www.mundoportugues.pt/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/11/aldeia-de-monsanto1.jpg) is famous for the [Boulder Homes](https://estreladaidanha.pt/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/14-Monsanto.jpg) and [Penha Garcia](https://www.jornaldofundao.pt/files/2021/08/penha-garcia-3-1200×485.jpg) for the views. But you also have some white villages too ([Barroca](https://aldeiasdoxisto.pt/sites/default/files/styles/asset_image_full/public/DSC_9140.jpg?itok=an-yj5FY)) ([Trancoso](https://turismodocentro.pt/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Trancoso-1.jpg)). [Almeida](https://imgs-akamai.mnstatic.com/28/8d/288d254e08cb8e045119ac8473a4dc49.jpg?quality=75&format=pjpg&fit=bounds&width=980&height=880) is very cool-looking. Villages here are either surrounded by farm fields and pastures, or are in hillsides surrounded by forest and nature, and tend to be compact.

   In Beira Litoral, villages tend to be white, but with some stone elements ([Águeda](https://www.portugalist.com/wp-content/uploads/Umbrella-street-in-Agueda.jpg)). Surrounded by nature ([Dornes](https://aldeiasdoxisto.pt/sites/default/files/covers/34727.jpg)), some larger villages tend to have some modern elements to them, due to this region having a large population ([Montemor-o-Velho](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Montemor-o-Velho.jpg)) ([Murtosa](https://i1.wp.com/www.mundolusiada.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Murtosa_Aveiro_CentroPt.jpg?fit=1573%2C653&ssl=1)). [Costa Nova do Prado](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/011293_-_Costa_Nova_do_Prado_%2821171782496%29.jpg/1920px-011293_-_Costa_Nova_do_Prado_%2821171782496%29.jpg) is famous for their striped houses.

   In Minho, villages once again use a mix of stone and white ([Sistelo](https://static.natgeo.pt/files/styles/image_3200/public/sistelo5.jpg?w=1600&h=900)). Surrounded by farming terraces and hills ([Soajo](https://www.visitarcos.pt/thumbs/cmarcosdevaldevez/uploads/geo_article/image/4562/soajo_0001_1_1024_2500.jpg)), granaries are very common ([Lindoso](https://www.aldeiasdeportugal.pt/media/2019/07/lindoso-11-1024×682.jpg)). These villages are usually located in valleys ([Castro Laboreiro](https://cdn.e-konomista.pt/uploads/2020/11/castro-laboreiro-geres.jpg)) ([Gavieira](https://i1.wp.com/www.vortexmag.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/rou%C3%A7asgavieira-e1486409247196.jpg?w=900&ssl=1)) or hillsides ([Germil](https://i1.wp.com/www.vortexmag.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/germil.jpg?resize=1024%2C703&ssl=1)). Some of these villages are located close to rivers ([Vilar de Mouros](https://partiupelomundo.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/visitar-vilar-de-mouros.jpg)), and have watermills ([Estorãos](https://www.visitepontedelima.pt/fotos/galerias/142322026420199_1_1009562539569fa09ec9221.jpg)). These villages have a very medieval feeling to them, and most of them are somewhat important to the early history of Portugal. Unfortunatelly, some are losing population very fast. [Val de Poldros](https://thumbs.web.sapo.io/?W=775&H=0&delay_optim=1&webp=1&epic=NTk41hyy577gu7h7gj9I3+46gzZZsXGsM+J0Czt/OwMz9ZOOas5vLifWZjAgYEKQCmOCFmYGlAlBnwhCyAmDd0KsYEKWWDGYoaNQsNd59NdoB4Q=) has only a single inhabitant.

5. Often built around a village green or central grassland. The main road usually fords around here. A parish church with a graveyard and a war memorial somewhere close by, along with a village inn (something like the Red Lion, King’s Head, George and Dragon, Rose and Crown, and so on). Surrounding it you’ll find a few cottages and rows and houses/shops. Usually Victorian, Edwardian, and 20’s/30’s, closer to the centre – in some villages you may see Georgian, or Tudor/Stuart, and buildings dating back to the Middle Ages). Post-war housing more toward the outskirts. It’ll be surrounded with parks/sports fields, and a main road. Fields on each side of the road. Restaurants/takeaways in the terrace rows.

   Images:

   https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4359/37034688031_3529bef3c5_c.jpg

   https://mldvwwasb8tu.i.optimole.com/5CC9Lzs.esbD~6200b/w:1000/h:667/q:90/https://travelaway.me/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Snowshill-Gloucestershire.jpg

   https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1508325739122-c57a76313bf4?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxzZWFyY2h8Mnx8ZW5nbGlzaCUyMHZpbGxhZ2V8ZW58MHx8MHx8&w=1000&q=80

   https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/b/traditional-english-village-scene-attractive-old-houses-old-telephone-box-decorated-flowers-foreground-192113758.jpg

6. Typical Ukrainian village is like this:
   Houses have 1-2 stories, usually built from bricks. Often covered with plaster or painted. Each house has a wooden or metal fence. A lot of trees, flowers and always something agricultural in the garden. People here do like to grow their own food. In the center of the village may be several larger buildings, like administration, cafe, store, etc. Oh, yes, and a church – at least one.

7. There’s many different types, according to location, materials and techniques and i’m not quite sure how yo classify them, but i’ll do my best.

   [Pueblos blancos](https://images.app.goo.gl/CzN8WnQig5SRnS1x7) (White towns): the buildings in these towns are whitewashed to reflect the sunlight and thus the Heat.

   [Pueblos Negros](https://images.app.goo.gl/XVYfCdaE33MzHx6z8) (black towns): their buildings are made from slate. they’re usually near slate quarries in Guadalajara.

   [pueblos rojos](https://images.app.goo.gl/mvMYHC84YWVkpiR98) (red towns): the buildings are made from red materials like Clay or iron rich rocks. They’re typical from Guadalajara too.

   [Pueblos de la costa norte](https://images.app.goo.gl/PJC1e69xLV2o1agy6) (Northern coast towns): this is a very broad category but It IS roughly true that towns in the northern coast are vaguely similar and pretty distinct from the rest of the country.

   [Cantabria range town?](https://images.app.goo.gl/F3QEPT6YkiuBkUj88): this is another very broad category, but It responds to a very particular image. This the prototypical basque town, but It can be found elsewhere too.

   [Canary islands](https://images.app.goo.gl/2sSQgnXiAUecDdnf6): the isles have a very particular aesthetic which IS more in line with some colonial cities in america. They also feature heavily the canarian pine tree endemic to the islands.

   [pyrinees](https://images.app.goo.gl/fCcnkZrVWcWNLsp98): often with a romanic church, Stone streets and Stone houses.

   [northern plateau town](https://images.app.goo.gl/9nnGYpvuvoPA1RAv9): buildings are generally made with limestone, on very flat terrain. They’re surrounded by farmaland. (For this one i literally chose a random town)

   [Southern Plateau town](https://images.app.goo.gl/FYBaGn6wf68655SSA): It’s an extension of the latter, but It has a different feel. City walls are much rarer and churches much older.

   There’s probably way more diversity, but as you can see from my last two examples i’m running out of ideas.

8. I think I have an interesting one to share! We have many types, but one type is a [kibbutz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kibbutz), which is a sort of agricultural socialist commune. Nowadays, most aren’t so socialist but are still quite communal. Traditional kibbutzes had communal cafeterias as well. They basically built this country. You can do WWOOFing on any kibbutz and have an amazing experience, especially in the desert south, where there are tons of young people from all over the world just experiencing the desert, the hard labor, and partying. It used to be more common for Europeans to do so.

9. Maybe a bit late, but adding it because I think Belgium is a bit different than previous reactions.

   Basically, Belgium (and mainly Flanders but also the north of Wallonia) is very known for its ‘ lintbebouwing’ (see : [https://architectenweb.nl/media/illustrations/2018/12/478496e8-ded9-4827-a058-dcdf5f578e88_thumbnail.jpg](https://architectenweb.nl/media/illustrations/2018/12/478496e8-ded9-4827-a058-dcdf5f578e88_thumbnail.jpg)), aka living next to a long road.What also is typically Belgian villages are the ‘front yards’ and completely different types of houses next to each other (see Ugly Belgian houses)

   Because of the density though, no village is really separate, sometimes if there were no plate indicating a new town, you wouldn’t notice it.

10. In my area (central Thuringia) the usual village consists of a central village square with maybe a small park, near that is the village church. Maybe there is also the priests house near the church. [Here’s our church](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Kirche_Tr%C3%B6chtelborn.JPG) and [here’s the priests house right next to it](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/Tr%C3%B6chtelborn-Pfarrhaus-CTH.jpg). There probably also a baker and a butcher somewhere in a central location in the village and maybe also a small shop.

    On the outskirts is some bigger agricultural buildings, probably from the 60s or 70s. Some villages also might have some industry.

    The rest of the buildings in the village are mostly old houses which were built onto another. Most of them modernized. Maybe some new ones in between. [Here’s a picture of some restored half-timbered houses in my village](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/Tr%C3%B6chtelborn-Bornberg_13-14-CTH.jpg)

    There might also be a monument somewhere. A lot of villages here have old woad stones as dyer’s woad was a huge industry for hundreds of years for our villages. [Here’s the last one that was still in use in Thuringia](https://img0.oastatic.com/img2/53360546/max/waidmuehle-pferdingsleben.jpg). It stands in the neighboring village.

    2 of our villages also have old watch towers.

11. By probability of encounter:

    Prosperous village. Everybody has cars, big TV, they just commute to a local county town for work ans shopping. Area is more pretty than in the city, but nothing special.

    Nominal village. Basically a very small town, but functions just the same way. Non-interesting surrounding.

    Crap village. Nothing to do, it is ugly, all the young people moved to town generations ago.

    Beautiful village. Has its panorama on postcards, overrun with tourists in the summer and winter, eerie and dead in spring and autumn. The area is alao beautiful.

    Old rich people’s village. Basically a colony of retired people, who live in identical houses in a place called countryside. Avoid. Bonus points if they WFH.

    Hidden gem. Beautiful village in a beautiful place, unknown to tourists for reasons. Probably counts as prosperous as well, if it is close to a cozy little town. Best place to live, once You get the local tight-knit community to accept You as their own. Endangered species. Bonus points for a nearby private palace/manor/castle of a random noble, who lived here centuries ago.