We had been to many beautiful sites while traveling alongside the Baltic Sea coastline, but there is no question that the tiny fishing village of Gothmund on the suburbs of Lübeck is one of the most magical ones we’ve ever seen – a cluster of cosy brick built cottages with thatched roofs, perfectly maintained lawns and lanes, idyllic gardens and orchards. The car-free settlement looks untouched by time, and it felt a little surreal when we arrived there in the morning and took a walk through the estate. The only missing was a few Hobbits as everything was like the Shire from the Lord of the Rings. Other than two or three locals working in their gardens, we seemed to be all alone in the village. Right, there were no real ‘activities’ such as cafes or restaurants, but you really don’t need them for this type of a place.