Thorn

Known as "the white city" for its whitewashed brick houses, this compact Limburg village on the Meuse sits at the heart of a former Imperial Abbey and packs an unusual number of churches, cafés, and listed historic buildings into a walkable centre — giving it a strong photographic appeal and a lively feel for its size.

• Population2,295
• Nearest water0.2 km
• Nearest mountain17.3 km
• UNESCO within 50 km3