St Mary's Church, nestled in the scenic Welsh village of Beddgelert within Eryri National Park (formerly Snowdonia), has unexpectedly achieved global recognition after being voted the 'best place on Earth' in a popular Reddit poll. The church emerged victorious in a multi-round elimination challenge hosted on the 'Terrible Maps' subreddit, which boasts over 30,000 weekly visitors. The competition began with a world map, with internet users progressively voting to remove half of the remaining locations until a single winner was declared after 29 rounds.
The Reverend Kim Williams of St Mary's Church expressed her surprise and delight at the outcome, noting the church's long-standing role in the local community. Beddgelert itself is a small village in Gwynedd, home to fewer than 1,000 residents, and has long been a draw for tourists due to its breathtaking mountain scenery, stone cottages, and accessibility to popular walking trails such as the Aberglaslyn Pass. The Welsh Highland Railway also passes through the village, connecting Caernarfon and Porthmadog.
Beyond its natural beauty, Beddgelert is deeply intertwined with Welsh folklore, particularly the legend of Gelert, a faithful hound. According to the 13th-century tale, Gelert was mistakenly killed by his master, Prince Llywelyn, who believed the dog had harmed his infant son. Llywelyn later discovered his son unharmed next to the body of a wolf Gelert had slain, revealing the dog's true heroism. Gelert's grave, a significant landmark, is located a short walk from St Mary's Church and continues to attract visitors.
Reddit users lauded both the church and the village throughout the polling process. Comments described Beddgelert as a 'gorgeous place' and St Mary's as a 'beautiful church', with many expressing that its victory was well-deserved. As the rounds progressed, a strong online community rallied behind the Welsh location, with some users even declaring intentions to book holidays to visit the newly crowned 'best place on Earth'.
The unexpected accolade highlights the power of online communities to shine a spotlight on lesser-known locations and could potentially bring a new wave of visitors to this historically rich and naturally stunning corner of Wales. The increased visibility may offer an economic boost to local businesses and tourism providers in Beddgelert and the wider Eryri region.
Source: Reddit