Europe is home to 231 UNESCO World Heritage sites which are categorised as natural wonders, but despite their beauty they are barely known about
Europe boasts the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites, with a whopping 231 listed as natural marvels.
However, this abundance of wonders attracts over 100 million tourists each year, making sightseeing a potentially crowded and stressful affair.
That’s why Emerald Cruises has highlighted some lesser-known but equally breathtaking sites that offer a more serene experience.
One such hidden gem is the Prehistoric Pile Dwellings in Switzerland, dating back to between 5000 and 500BC. Despite its rich cultural and historical significance, this archaeological site only receives an average of 20 Google searches per month.
These ancient ruins are the last remnants of neolithic and Bronze Age societies who constructed their homes on stilts above marshy lands to safeguard against periodic flooding, reports the Express.
A total of 56 of these sites can be found in Switzerland.
UNESCO describes these settlements as a unique collection of exceptionally well-preserved and culturally significant archaeological sites, providing invaluable insights into early agrarian societies in the region.
Another Swiss treasure is the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch, which offers awe-inspiring alpine vistas. The mountain’s majesty has been praised by over 100 visitors
.
Loch Ness has been named as the top UK destination that people are itching to visit, according to recent research.
The top natural wonders ranked
Rank |
Site |
Country |
Weighted Rank |
Keyword Count |
Sentiment Score |
Avg Monthly Search Volume |
1 |
Prehistoric Pile dwellings around the Alps |
Switzerland |
95.0 |
117 |
83 |
20 |
2 |
Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch |
Switzerland |
86.7 |
106 |
73 |
5400 |
3 |
Sintra-Cascais Natural Park |
Portugal |
79.1 |
74 |
68 |
390 |
4 |
Jostedalsbreen National Park |
Norway |
78.0 |
72 |
66 |
390 |
5 |
Teide National Park |
Spain |
77.9 |
75 |
65 |
1600 |
6 |
Thingvellir National Park |
Iceland |
76.6 |
71 |
69 |
5400 |
7 |
Lauterbrunnen Valley |
Switzerland |
75.9 |
46 |
80 |
590 |
8 |
Donana National Park |
Spain |
75.5 |
75 |
57 |
880 |
9 |
Picos de Europa National Park |
Spain |
75.2 |
78 |
53 |
590 |
10 |
Plitvice Lakes National Park |
Croatia |
75.0 |
79 |
58 |
5400 |