Your Favorite for Europe?

[NikonGuy]

What is the best wonder for Europe. When I started thinking about it, I was like what are there. Looking at the list made me realize how much Europe has to offer.

Maybe a Disneyland memory, but I am going with the Matterhorn on this one. That mountain just looks cool.

[jrisley]

I'm living in Europe at the moment and outside of Venice (not a natural wonder!) the most amazing thing I've seen are the Alps. They are incredible.

[guster]

I wonder why I don't see the Belogradchik Rocks ( in the list of your site here???

On the official "New 7 Wonders" site it is ranked at 3-rd place in group D - "Caves, rock formations and valleys", so it's a REAL MYSTERY why it's not listed here... :( :( :(

[admin]

Please feel free to vote it in. It will get added as it receives votes. Also 3rd place of group D is about rock formations and valleys whereas this is all inclusive.

[guster]

OK, but I still don't get it why the "Belogradchik Rocks" aren't listed in your "Seven Natural Wonders of Europe" presentation?

You have put 16 Natural Wonders there - among them the "Davolja Varos" which is at 1-st place in Group D on the Original "New7Wonders" website, the "Rock of Aphrodite" which is at 5-th place in THE SAME GROUP, and the "Rock of Gibraltar" which is at 9-th place in THE SAME GROUP...

And where's the "Belogradchik Rocks" which is now 2-nd in THAT SAME GROUP D? I don't get it, how the Wonders that are behind it ARE present, the ONLY Wonder in front of it IS present, and IT's just MISSING... There's something really WRONG with that... Please, explain me... Where should I vote it in in order for it to appear on your presentation list for "Seven Natural Wonders of Europe"?

[guster]

And now, the Belogradchik Rocks are at 1-st place in D Group...

[admin]

Reasonable question and maybe it will get added without getting voted in. Seven Natural Wonders is looking for the most spectacular natural wonders of each continent.

It does not matter which "category" but rather the collective uniqueness. If you could only see 7 natural wonders in Europe which 7 should they be.

Candidly, never heard of these. Second, when doing research never saw them. Even looked at the new 7 wonders site and they were not amidst the top 100 and were ranked lower than any of the ones listed on this site.

We welcome the input and the suggestions and that is also why we have the "write in" options - allowing for over sight in missing something. Thanks for the input and please feel free to invite others to come and vote here for them.

[NikonGuy]

I was just looking at the list on that site. Where are the Belogradchik Rocks? is the wrong question -- Where is Mount McKinley (Denali)? This is the mountain with the greatest vertical change in elevation from base (above ground) to the peak.

It is not even listed at all.

[admin]

Where is Mount McKinley (Denali)? This is the mountain with the greatest vertical change in elevation from base (above ground) to the peak.

It is not even listed at all.

Yes that is true and one of the reasons McKinely is a candidate here for North America. There is only one other mountain that has a greater elevation change, but its base is underwater.

[guster]

The Belogradchik Rocks current position can be seen on the "New7Wonders" Live Ranking webpage - new7wonders.com

Yes, the Rocks were not well-known because Bulgaria was behind the Iron Curtain during all these years but they are getting some real attention from foreign tourists now in the recent years!

Here are some photos:

http://seen.evgenidinev.com/img/IMG_11119.jpg

http://www.belogradchik.info/1/index2.php?option=com_datsogallery&func=wmark&mid=63

http://www.bg-tourism.com/images/photos-nature/belogradchik-b.jpg

http://www.orbitel.bg/uploads/adminfckfiles/image/Fotor/Belogradchishkite%20skali.JPG

[NikonGuy]

good pictures and it is a pretty cool site. When I look at the category D and see this above the Grand Canyon I don't get it. Do you really believe that this rock formation is more spectacular than the Grand Canyon?

I have been following the voting on that site and someone always has a quick spell where marketing/networking gets a wonder up, but usually it levels off.

I man Co's Bazaar Beach ahead of the Great Barrier Reef, Ha Long Bay, and the Red Sea Reef. Marketing injustices if I could say so.

[guster]

OK, nobody's saying that the Grand Canyon is nothing... :)

It's obviously really enormous and gigantic, sure very spectacular as you say... But is that all? It's at the same time somewhat monotonous and desert-looking... Everywhere you look it's the same... And that Davolja Varos in Serbia? It really looks like the dwelling-place of the Devil itself... :)

The Belogradchik Rocks are not the same... They are really enchanting and even charming and romantic.

The area length is about 30km and its width is 3-6km. Many of the rocks are related with interesting legends. The central group of rocks is situated to the South of Belogradchik. Here are the most interesting and impressive formations – Adam and Eve, The Schoolgirl, The Bear, The Shepherd boy, The Dervish, The First slab stone, The Camel, The Mushrooms, The Cuckoo, The Red wall, The Madonna, The Horseman, The Monks, The Mental stone, Rebel Velko, The Pine stone, Bendida, Orpheus and Eurydice and many others.

And here's The Legend of the Belogradchik Rocks:

"Centuries ago, men's and women's monasteries existed up there surrounded by the Belogradchik rocks. Early every morning, the monastic bells would call for prayer, the devoted to God nuns. The youngest amongst them, the obedient Valentina, was unable to hide her beauty, even under her cassock.

Just one measly time a year, on ‘Petrov Den’ (St.Peter's Day), the people were allowed to visit the monastery. On this festive day, fate met the young nun, with the proud Roman patrician, Antonio. Days of happy pensiveness were coming along. While one night, Antonio climbed a rope and stepped over into Valentina’s cell. The sin was committed…

Quiet and calm nights followed, filled with love and voluptuous embraces. Love is a wonderful spell. It has its own laws, though human intelligence, however strong it may be, steps aside. But soon, her illicit love was uncovered. Behind the thick monastery walls, everything could be hidden, but not that childish cry…

Valentina was made to face trial before the court of the monks and nuns. It took a long time for them to think of a heavy punishment for Valentina. She listened compromisingly, snuggling her baby in a warm embrace. Finally, they came to a steady verdict. They decided to anathematize and throw her out of the monastery. To wander everywhere, insulted and cursed, like a symbol of treachery, ascribed honor and virtue of a woman. The monks proceeded to their monastery. Accursed and banished, Valentina stood outside the gates, holding her child in her arms. At this time, from the hill, Antonio appeared, riding his white horse, dubious of the revelation, and of the callous sentence.

And then a miracle happened… God sent a storm, thunder and earthquake – and the monastery buckled. Everything around had turned to stone. Valentina turned into a stone Madonna, holding baby in arms. All of them exist even today – the Madonna with the child, the Horseman, and the Monks, who were on their way to the monastery..."

[guster]

And here are some photos from the Magura Cave near Belogradchik that has some really wonderful prehistoric drawings made by the people that lived there thousands of years ago...

http://www.imotimirela.com/dynamic/i/articles/php/92/1092/3_4.jpg

http://dariknews.bg/uploads/news_images/200808/photo_verybig_279417.jpg

http://www.bulgariainside.com/images/galleries/th_641x426/_w_889b71e1976f910fddc32087a81191b2.jpeg

And they hold some music concerts there sometimes because of the good acoustics...

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0fxaghk4ZB3F0/610x.jpg

So... come and have a look...

[Aureko]

Hi, anyone know where I can vote for the New Seven NAtural Wonders of the World?

Btw Mazurian Lakes all the way

[NikonGuy]

Hi, anyone know where I can vote for the New Seven NAtural Wonders of the World?

Btw Mazurian Lakes all the way

Seven Natural Wonders (http://sevennaturalwonders.org) Click on the continent and vote - you get 7 each.

[ballking]

Even looked at the new 7 wonders site and they were not amidst the top 100 and were ranked lower than any of the ones listed on this site.

We welcome the input and the suggestions and that is also why we have the "write in" options - allowing for over sight in missing something. Thanks for the input and please feel free to invite others to come and vote here for them.

[edobrien]

The Belogradchik Rocks current position can be seen on the "New7Wonders" Live Ranking webpage - new7wonders.com

Yes, the Rocks were not well-known because Bulgaria was behind the Iron Curtain during all these years but they are getting some real attention from foreign tourists now in the recent years!

Here are some photos:

http://seen.evgenidinev.com/img/IMG_11119.jpg

http://www.belogradchik.info/1/index2.php?option=com_datsogallery&func=wmark&mid=63

http://www.bg-tourism.com/images/photos-nature/belogradchik-b.jpg

http://www.orbitel.bg/uploads/adminfckfiles/image/Fotor/Belogradchishkite%20skali.JPG

God, those are beeaaaauuuutiful!!! Is Bulgaria safe to travel through? I'm thinking about going there just to see these rock formations!

[TaffyTony]

To get back to the actual question of this thread: I think my favorite for Europe is Davolja Varos. I had never heard of those and find them astonishing! It first reminded me of the rocky lava landscape on Tenerife which I have been to a couple of times (lovely). I also like the white cliffs of dover but for all intents and purposes Helgoland should be listed too then (I did send it in as a suggestion). Im surprised Dover isnt more at the top.

[Filipenes]

very nice post! just mark it.

[MorganH34]

ammm well how do ya vote

[NikonGuy]

ammm well how do ya vote

Visit the homepage, click on one of the continents, and the click on Vote Now

[jenshag]

I'm living in Europe at the moment and outside of Venice (not a natural wonder!) the most amazing thing I've seen are the Alps. They are incredible.

I totally agree with you. I went to the Alps a few times and ...it´s so beautyfull there, the air, the light, the colors...everything. I went there in spring and in winter and the contrast is amazing.

[sceptic_male]

The Alps definitely and what about the stone henge ?

[neapolitanischer]

:)I'm living in Europe at the moment and outside of Venice (not a natural wonder!) the most amazing thing I've seen are the Alps. They are incredible.

Yes, I do also.
But thhe Vesuvius too is very amazing.