Often associated with chocolate box cottages in the English countryside, thatched homes actually come in all shapes and sizes and can be found in endless countries around the world, with such techniques first being employed by the Aztec empire in the 15th century.

Today, thatched roofs can be found on quaint cottages, grand country manors and even traditional Japanese homes. Click or scroll to feast your eyes on some of the most beautiful straw-topped houses in the world.