Best place in Beleriand

[Jonathan]

Which place in Beleriand would you like to visit most of all? Which place do you think is the most comfortable place to live in?

Doriath seemed to be a very nice place, if you like the woods. Think about it, a huge forest probably full of elves and wonderful animals, and with the Girdle of Melian as protection from evil on the outside, you would be perfectly safe in the woods. And Thingol’s “Thousand Caves�, the Halls of Menegroth, must have been spectacular.

But if you like caves, I wonder if not Finrod’s Nargothrond was nicer than Menegroth, even though Nargothrond was carved on the model of Menegroth. It couldn’t have been for nothing that Finrod was called Felagund (Hewer of Caves) by the Dwarves. His caves were probably the most beautiful things ever carved into a mountain.

Then there was Gondolin, the great Hidden City of Turgon. An Elven city right in the middle of the Encircling Mountains, imagine view from Amon Gwareth (the hill on which the city was built). It must have been astonishing! And if you one morning looked up into the sky, you might spot one of the Eagles of Thorondor circling the sky.
Like the Girdle of Melian protected Doriath, the Eagles made sure that Gondolin was kept secret and safe. Gondolin might have been the safest place in all of Beleriand.

There were many other marvellous places in Beleriand, but these three are the ones that I think could compete for the title ‘Best place in Beleriand’.
What do you think?
[EDIT] If you believe that there are better places than the ones listed above, then say so! :)

[afro-elf]

I might be partial to Gondolin for favorite place.

But, I am keeping my black !@# on the Falas (?) with Cirdan for the safest. In hindsight it was never assaulted by Morgoth.

[Sister Golden Hair]

Nargothrond. Need I say more?:)

[Ñólendil]

I hope you won't.

As for me, I would live a quiet life in Nan-tathren, alone, if need be: For I had seen little of the lands of Middle-earth, and we came to Nan-tathren in the spring of the year. Lovely to heart's enchantment is that land, Tuor, as you shall find, if ever your feet go upon the southward roads down Sirion. There is the cure of all sea-longing, save for those whom Doom will not release. There Ulmo is but the servant of Yavanna, and the earth has brought to life a wealth of fair things that is beyond the thought of hearts in the hard hills of the North. In that land Narog joins Sirion, and they haste no more, but flow broad and quiet through living meads; and all about the shining river are flaglilties like a blossoming forest, and the grass is filled with flowers, like gems, like bells, like flames of red and gold, like waste of many-coloured stars in a firmament of green. Yet fairest of all are the willows of Nan-tathren, pale gren, or silver in the wind, and the rustle of their innumerable leaves is a spell of music: day and night would flicker by uncounted, while still I stood knee-deep in grass and listened. There I was enchanted, and forgot the Sea in my heart.
--- VoronwëIn the willow-meads of Tasarinan I walked in the Spring.
Ah! the sight and the smell of the Spring in Nan-tasarion!
And I said that was good.
--- Treebeard

[Sister Golden Hair]

Originally posted by Ñólendil
I hope you won't.

As for me, I would live a quiet life in Nan-tathren, alone, if need be:
--- Voronwë
--- Treebeard Don't worry Mr., I won't, because I don't have to. I picked Nargothrond only because Jonathan listed the major kingdoms to choose from, but I have always said that Nan-tathren was where I would always choose to live.

[afro-elf]

Best place in Beleriand- a home with a Quendi female companion.
:)

[Falagar]

Gondolin, of course. Being under the command of Echtelion while he was chief of the 7th gate (hopefully I would get alot of perms ;)).

[Ruinel]

Nargothrond while my love, Finrod, was alive in Middle Earth. After that, it doesn't matter. :(

[Sister Golden Hair]

:rolleyes:

[Artanis]

:p

Doriath, with Beleg. Lin, are you with me? :D

[Anglorfin]

Gondolin.

[Sween]

Tol Galen when Luthien wore the simali!i believe it became the most beautiful of all the mortal lands

[Elenna Alaniel]

I think Dorthonion was a beautifull place before Dagor Bragolach.atleast I imagine it beautifull.Doriath and Falas are on the second place

[Linaewen]

Originally posted by Artanis
:p

Doriath, with Beleg. Lin, are you with me? :D

Certainly, Artanis. :)

Gee, SGH and Ruinel, you guys should take a leaf from Artanis' and my book- sharing is caring. :D We share Beleg and we never fight And Beleg is better than Finrod too!

[Artanis]

Hear, hear! :D

[Sister Golden Hair]

Originally posted by Linaewen
Certainly, Artanis. :)

Gee, SGH and Ruinel, you guys should take a leaf from Artanis' and my book- sharing is caring. :D We share Beleg and we never fight Well, I don't share such things.And Beleg is better than Finrod too! :p Beleg is not better than Finrod. Finrod was a king from a noble line. He was also born and raised in Valinor. Beleg was a scruffy servant of Thingol, that lived in the wild half the time. A homeless, wayworn, butt kisser. Finrod had a kingdom:p

OT- Another place in Beleriand I would like to have seen, but I don't think I would have wanted to live there, was Tol-sirion, before Sauron took it over.

[Sister Golden Hair]

Originally posted by Artanis
Hear, hear! :D See the above post.:rolleyes: ;)

[Linaewen]

Originally posted by Sister Golden Hair
Beleg is not better than Finrod. Finrod was a king from a noble line. He was also born and raised in Valinor. Beleg was a scruffy servant of Thingol, that lived in the wild half the time. A homeless, wayworn, butt kisser. Finrod had a kingdom:p

Yeah, but all Finrod does here is cause fights between the Mooters. At least Beleg can keep a girl satisfied. ;) :D

[Sister Golden Hair]

Originally posted by Linaewen
Yeah, but all Finrod does here is cause fights between the Mooters. At least Beleg can keep a girl satisfied. ;) :D My dear, the difference is that Finrod is worth fighting over. Right Ru?:p

[Artanis]

Originally posted by Linaewen
At least Beleg can keep a girl satisfied. ;) :D Two girls. ;) :D

[Sween]

finrods a pretty boy loser

[Jonathan]

Originally posted by Sween
finrods a pretty boy loser SGH and Ruinel will be mad at you now :D


I think I've somewhat made up my mind of which place is the best. When it comes to visiting, I'd most of all like to visit Gondolin. Gondolin must have been a great city for a tourist with lots of tourist attractions.

But I wouldn't want to live in a city which is that remote and isolated as Gondolin, even though I'd love to live in a city. But since there doesn't seem to have been many good cities around in Beleriand, I guess the best place for me to live would probably be Doriath. Finrod and his Nargothrond will have to excuse, but I couldn't live in a cave no matter how fantastic it was. I'd rather live in the woods of Thingol's kingdom, where I would be able to see the sun and some vegetation :)

[Sister Golden Hair]

Originally posted by Sween
finrods a pretty boy loser Jealous! You should live to be so pretty.:p

[Sween]

Originally posted by Sister Golden Hair
Jealous! You should live to be so pretty.:p

Im handsome i have vita to look all pretty! I just dont suit skirts no matter how much i love them :D

[Rían]

I don't know quite why, but Gondolin has always enchanted me ...

*imagines living there with Tuor the noble, the valiant, the stud-muffin*

*realizes that this might look a little weird, since her Entmoot name is the name of Tuor's MOTHER* :eek:

OK, people, I chose "RÃ*an" for my Moot name because I liked how it looked and sounded, not because she was Tuor's mom!

I think that people generally think of the city when thinking of Gondolin, but there are beautiful non-city parts, too.

[Rían]

I had forgotten about Nan-tathren - that must have been a very beautiful place to make Voronwë forget about the sea ...

"in the fair fields of Nan-tathren, where the spring is sweeter than heart's desire."

[Sween]

Gondolins kinda the most fantastic image of a place ever. In Encircling hills hidden from the world tall and white and beautiful. Of all the storys of the Silmarillion i have to say if i could see one battle broiught to life it would be that the desperate defence of the best city this side of the great sea :D.

Still give me safty anyday :D

[Elvellon]

Probably Menegroth, mostly due to Doriath, (I would want to see that forest). But Nargothrond would be a good second choice (a learning centre as it was) . Gondolin, being an enclosed city would be a nice place to visit, but since it doesn’t have the wood expanses of elsewhere, and since one cannot leave, it doesn’t have the appeal other places have (to me).

[Maedhros]

Of course Gondolin is the most beautiful place in Middle-Earth. I wonder how Dor Firn-i-Guinar , the Land of the Death that live, would compare with the other places, especially when Lúthien wore the NauglamÃ*r:
From the Sil:
but it is said and sung that Lúthien wearing that necklace and that immortal jewel was the vision of greatest beauty and glory that has ever been outside the realm of Valinor; and for a little while the Land of the Dead that Live became like a vision of the land of the Valar, and no place has been since so fair, so fruitful, or so filled with light.

Nevertheless, the place that I would most like to visit would be:

And it was said to him that this was Mar Vanwa Tyaliéva, or the Cottage of Lost Play, and at that name he wondered greatly.

I know that this place is outside of Beleriand and outside of Tolkien's later legendarium, but it is a place of great beauty and hope. While the other great elf kingdoms of Beleriand, could have been way more beautiful, there were always under the assault of Morgoth. I don't think that neither kingdom in ME could be truly happy with the overpowering presence of him, and also, there was not that mixture of elves and men in them. For example it didn't exist in Nargothrond, Gondolin or Menegroth. In contrast, the Cootage of Lost Play, being an early conception was a place in where both Men and Elves could live side by side in harmony and peace. A place where there was an integration never to be seen again. It was truly the Cottage of Lost Play where no Play was lost.

[Tuor of Gondolin]

For an elf---(if not in Turgon's crowd) The willow reeds of Nan-Tathren

For a human--- (if not one of the three classy people allowed in Gondolin), Dor-Lomin

For a dwarf---Belegost (among other things, get to pick up the pieces after the dummies in Nogrod try to rumble with elves, Beren, and ents)

For an ent---Taur-Im-Duinath (bigger then other Beleriand forests. Lots of "room to grow" for the relatively young ent polity.

[Attalus]

I wouldn't get into Nargothond because SGH would always have the guest bedroom booked. Gondolin for me, but I gotta love Afro-elf's comment about the Havens.

[Falagar]

And it would be impossible to sleep, laying awake all night listening to SGH and Ruinel fighting.

[Radagast The Brown]

Originally posted by Falagar
And it would be impossible to sleep, laying awake all night listening to SGH and Ruinel fighting. Neh, it'll be quiet. Finrod will throw them out of his kingdom. :p

[Jonathan]

Originally posted by Radagast The Brown
Neh, it'll be quiet. Finrod will throw them out of his kingdom. :p No, they'd have Finrod chained to his bed :p

[Elvengirl]

Gondolin has always caught my attention, because of its renowned history and its beauty. I'd definitely want to visit there, but as for a home, I would say I'd be happier in Doriath.

[Twista]

The small river of Tol Galen has always beem special to me.. hehe

[Turgon_Turambar]

i reckon Angband would be a great tourist attraction. They even get to see a Valar at no extra cost.

[Celeborn of Doriath]

I would like to live in Doriath. I think Menegroth is more beautiful than Nargothrond. But Gondolin is great, too.

[Artanis]

Hey Celeborn my dear, welcome! :D Would you perhaps like to introduce yourself in this thread (http://entmoot.tolkientrail.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=359331#post359331)? I would love to know who I'm married to. :p

[Maedhros]

For all of you who think that Gondolin is not the best place, beat this description:
"Lo, it stands fair to see and very clear, and its towers prick the heavens above the Hill of Watch in the midmost plain." Then Tuor and his companion were led over the plain that was of a marvellous level, broken but here and there by boulders round and smooth which lay amid a sward, or by pools in rocky beds. Many fair pathways lay across that plain, and they came after a day's light march to the foot of the Hill of Watch (which is in the tongue of the Noldor Amon Gwared). Then did they begin to ascend the winding stairways which climbed up to the city gate; nor might any one reach that city save on foot and espied from the walls. As the westward gate was golden in the last sunlight did they come to the long stair's head, and many eyes gazed upon them from the battlements and towers.
But Tuor looked upon the walls of stone, and the uplifted towers, upon the glistering pinnacles of the town, and he looked upon the stairs of stone and marble up to its high platform, and its great gate, bordered by slender balustrades and cooled by the leap of threadlike waterfalls seeking the plain from the fountains of Amon Gwared, and he fared as one in some dream of the Valar, for he deemed not such things were seen by men in the visions of their sleep, so great was his amaze at the glory of Gondolin.
Then did the throng return within the gates and the wanderers with them, and Tuor saw they were of iron and of great height and strength. Now the streets of Gondolin were paved with stone and wide, kerbed with marble, and fair houses and courts amid gardens of bright flowers mounds of mallorns, birches, and evergreen trees were set about the ways, and many towers of great slenderness and beauty builded of white marble and carved most marvellously rose to the heaven. Squares there were lit with fountains and the home of birds that sang amid the branches of their aged trees, but of all these the greatest was that place where stood the King’s house , and the tower thereof on a pillared arcade was the loftiest in the city, and above it flew the banner of Fingolfin and the fountains that played before the doors shot twenty fathoms and seven in the air and fell in a singing rain of crystal: therein did the sun glitter splendidly by day, and the moon most magically shimmered by night. The birds that dwelt there were of the whiteness of snow and their voices sweeter than a lullaby of music.
On either side of the doors of the palace were the gilded images of two trees, one of gold and the other of silver, and they were likenesse the glorious Trees of Valinor that lit those places before Morgoth and Ungoliant withered them: and those trees the Gondolindrim named Glingal and Belthil.

[Minielin]

The pillars of Menegroth were hewn in the likeness of the beeches of Orome, stock, bough, and leaf, and they were lit with lanterns of gold. The nightingales sang there as in the gardens of Lorien; and there were fountains of silver, and basins of marble, and floors of many-colored stones. Carven figures of beasts and birds there ran upon the walls, or climbed upon the pillars, or peered among the branches entwined with many flowers. And as the years passed Melian and her maidens filled the halls with woven hangings wherein could be read the deeds of the Valar, and many things that had befallen in Arda since its beginning, and shadows of things that were yet to be. That was the fairest dwelling of any king that has ever been east of the Sea. Not as long, but the last sentence says it all. Doriath also has the appeal of freedom and has the woods that you could wander in.

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

the best place in all beleriand was gondolin, ah the hidden city in days of splendour, how i recall the banners of the seven houses flying in the breeze...

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

I agree. It was the closest thing on ME to Tirion in Valinor. No wonder Turgon wanted to keeps it's location secret.

[Pytt]

Yes, Gondolin is great. The closest to Tirion as TD says.
I also thing Nargotrhond is really cool. One of those places. I also think Menegroth is great.

[Uinor]

Ossiriand, Land of Music...

Land of the Seven Rivers....

[jammi567]

check this link (http://entmoot.tolkientrail.com/showthread.php?t=12978&page=4) to see my thoughts

[Finrod Felagund]

Nargothrond. Need I say more?:)


Muahahahaha!

Same for me...

[Tulkas]

i would with out dout want to live in Goldolin, the protection of the mountains would make me forget about the evil servants of morgoth dwelling in Beleriand. NOT TO MENTION that fact that its hidden from more than half of Beleriand

[NelyafinweMaitimo]

Best place in Beleriand- a home with a Quendi female companion.

Most definately. Especially if said home was in Hithlum...before it was sacked. Or perhaps Doriath...before it was sacked as well...

[Jonathan]

Most definately. Especially if said home was in Hithlum...before it was sacked. Or perhaps Doriath...before it was sacked as well...I don't think Doriath needs any explanation. But why Hithlum? I'm curious, what do you find attractive about Hithlum? I don't remember any description of the area at all really.

Welcome to Entmoot NeyliafinweMaitimo!

[NelyafinweMaitimo]

Thank you kindly for the warm welcome! You can call me Maitimo (my-TEE-moh), it's really my name, lucky me. It makes up for Ylihärsilä, my crappy, hard-to-say last name...mean people call me Ula. (Name's pronounced Oo-lei-HARR-seeh-lah, except the 'oo' sounds more like an 'ew,' if you were wondering).

Well, as for Hithlum, it did sport a rather nice lake, and, as Fingolfin and his son knew, you could keep an eye on everyone from there; Morgoth, and the Sons of Feanor both. It gives me the same vibes as the Scandanavian highlands. Admittedly, they're craggy, foggy, cold, damp, and grey to anyone who hasn't lived in them, but, to those who have...well, it feels like home, I guess.

Thus because of the curse that lay upon them the Noldor achieved nothing, while Morgoth hesitated, and the dread of light was new and strong upon the Orcs. But Morgoth arose from thought, and seeing the division of his foes he laughed. In the pits of Angband he caused vast smokes and vapours to be made, and they came forth from the reeking tops of the Iron Mountains, and afar off they could be seen in Mithrim, staining the bright airs in the first mornings of the world. A wind came out of the east, and bore them over Hithlum, darkening the new Sun; and they fell, and coiled about the fields and hollows, and lay upon the waters of Mithrim, drear and poisonous.
See? Finland.

[Jonathan]

Haha, Finland eh? Well, there is no place like home, is there?

Thanks for the reply, Mighty-Moe :)

[Peter_20]

Any place where female Elves of the Vanyar live. ;)

Anyway, I liked Gondolin the best.