Some towns look like they were plucked straight out of a storybook… and then there’s Stein am Rhein, which clearly decided to go all in on the fairytale look.

Half-timbered houses painted in candy colours, medieval charm oozing from every alleyway, and the Rhine flowing through like a lazy blue ribbon—Stein am Rhein is the kind of place where you half expect a knight to clank past on his way to lunch.

But beyond its obvious beauty, here are a few lesser-known nuggets to impress your travel companions:

The town once had its very own “painted gossip column.” Many of the murals on the façades aren’t just decorative—they told tales, moral lessons, or local scandals in pictorial form. Think of it as the Instagram feed of the Middle Ages. The town moved. Well, not the buildings, but the monastery inhabitants. In the 11th century, the monks of St. George’s Abbey relocated here from an island on Lake Constance—probably because island life wasn’t as glamorous as it sounds (too damp, too isolated, no bakery with raspberry cake). You can literally swim into history. On sunny days, locals and visitors alike take a dip in the Rhine right next to centuries-old walls. You can backstroke past medieval architecture—try finding that in your average swimming pool.

And speaking of irresistible pleasures…

If you do only one thing in Stein am Rhein (apart from wandering around looking smug at your perfect holiday choice), eat the Raspberry Cake at Ermatinger’s.

A flaky puff pastry base, airy sponge, clouds of delicate cream, and so many fresh raspberries you might suspect berry smuggling—it’s honestly the best I’ve ever had. If Hansel and Gretel had found this cake, they’d never have left.

Stein am Rhein Tip: Visit in the morning to dodge the tour groups, then linger in the afternoon with a slice of cake by the river. It’s the kind of day your future self will thank you for.