Composite Image: Emilia Clarke as Daenerys in Game of Thrones, with Northern Ireland's Dark Hedges in the background (image - DiscoverNorthernIreland.com).

The famous Dark Hedges in Co Antrim have just been voted one of the most beautiful places in the world.

The prestigious Architectural Digest magazine, which is published in America, has placed the Hedges at number seven in its Top 10 of the most beautiful streets on the planet - ahead of the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

Architectural Digest's 10 most beautiful streets:

The Caminito in Buenos Aires’s La Boca district in Argentin Lombard Street with its hairpin bends in San Francisco The streets of Chefchaouen, Morocco The vine covered streets of Jerez de la Frontera, Spain The streets in 1,000-year-old town of Lijiang, China Cherry Blossom Avenue in Bonn, Germany The Dark Hedges in Co Antrim The Champs-Elysees, Paris (left) The Brouwersgracht, Amsterdam The streets of Agueda in Portugal

Last year the Hedges, on the Bregagh Road near Ballymoney, were included in a list of the 12 best road trips in the UK and Ireland by continentalroadtrip.com.

The iconic avenue of Beech trees, a major tourist attraction for Game of Thrones fans, was also chosen as one of the world's 'enchanting' spots by Culture Trip, which calls itself the biggest culture website in the world.

In the citation, Culture Trip said the Dark Hedges were scenic and atmospheric, but advised the "easily spooked" to give the Bregagh Road a wide berth "because legend has it that it is home to an otherworldly resident, a spectral grey lady said to glide between the trees at dusk".

Expand Close Composite Image: Emilia Clarke as Daenerys in Game of Thrones, with Northern Ireland's Dark Hedges in the background (image - DiscoverNorthernIreland.com). / Facebook

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Whatsapp Composite Image: Emilia Clarke as Daenerys in Game of Thrones, with Northern Ireland's Dark Hedges in the background (image - DiscoverNorthernIreland.com).

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The stunning tunnel of trees along the Bregagh Road was planted in the 18th century by the Stuart family, owners of the Georgian mansion, Gracehill House.

It was designed to impress the Stuarts' visitors as they approached their estate.

The Dark Hedges, which have long been one of the most photographed attractions in Northern Ireland, were propelled to even greater fame by HBO's cult television series, Game of Thrones.

The trees represented the King's Road in the first episode of the second season of Thrones, as Arya Stark, who had escaped from King's Landing disguised as a boy, travelled through the Hedges with other characters to join the Night's Watch.

Ever since, the Dark Hedges have proved to be a magnet for followers of the series from right around the world, including Japan, China, America and Scandinavia.

Earlier this year it was revealed the trees were at risk from the increased flow of visitors and cars.

Transport NI said it was in talks with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council about introducing a new traffic management system on the Bregagh Road.

Infrastructure minister Chris Hazzard told the Assembly that among the measures under consideration were better parking provision and a footpath.

He also said that a total ban on vehicles was also a possibility, as a means of ensuring that the Dark Hedges received special protection.

A number of the iconic trees were blown down earlier this year in storms.

The wood from two of the trees that fell in January has been used for carvings for 10 intricately-designed doors fitted in pubs and hotels, each one telling the story of an episode in season six of Game of Thrones.

The 10 establishments are all close to filming locations from the series.

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Belfast Telegraph