Game Of Thrones
Summary
Throughout its ladder , Game of Throneshas sport a production economic value that rivaled most major Hollywood films — andmany of the tangible - life locations that became classiclandmarks in the Seven Kingdomshave histories just as interestingas their fictional counterpart . In addition to elaborated costume and stunning CGI , the show is perhaps well bonk for its location shooting . Rather than shoot everything in a studio apartment , GoTuses substantial - life locations across the Western Hemisphere to constitute Westeros .
From the James Jerome Hill of Northern Ireland , to the glacier of Iceland , Game of Thrones ' production gang spared no expense in making the most elaborate show possible . The show was filmed at various locations across the world , with country as varied as Spain , Iceland , Morocco , and the United Kingdom all tapped into to create the feeling of a living , breathing Westeros . While there were 12 of outdoor fix used for the show , there are10 actual - life castles and landmarks used inGame of Thronesthat abide out either for their account or how they were apply .
The Game of Thrones / House of the Dragon function is as detailed as the existent world . Here ’s the full ( known ) creation and a breakdown of all the key locating .
The Castle Of Zafra, Spain
The Tower Of Joy
appear inGame of Thronesseason 6 , The Castle of Zafra was a stand - in for the Tower of Joy , the provenance of Jon Snow .
look inGame of Thronesseason 6 , The Castle of Zafra wasa stand - in for the Tower of Joy , the birthplace of Jon Snow . It appeared in a flashback experienced by Bran Stark , where he saw his father , Ned , fight Targaryen forces during Robert ’s Rebellion . It was here where Bran learned the verity about his ' brother ' , and Jon ’s likely title to the commode .
The real Castle of Joywas built in the 12th century , in the region of Guadalajara — though , at the clip , the location was on a regular basis fought over by small-scale kingdoms that predate the modern nation of Spain . Like many Spanish fortress castles , The Castle of Zafra — or , as it ’s identify in Spanish , Castillo de Zafra — was plan to fight off the Muslim Moores .
The castle allegedly never fell to the invaders , and today it remains an crucial piece of Spanish military chronicle . The real Tower of Joy fromGame of Throneswas in active use until the later 1470s , after which the conjugation of the kingdoms of Castile and Aragon made The Castle of Zafra importantly less strategically important for military use .
The Royal Alcazar, Spain
A Dornish Palace
The Royal Alcazar , or the Real Alcázar de Sevilla as it ’s named in Spanish , is the closest thingGame of Thronesfans can find to a real - living Dorne . Another location from Spain — this time in the metropolis of Seville — The Royal Alcazar was used in the serial as one of the palace in the Carry Nation of Dorne . WhileDorne has remain controversialamong sports fan , no one can deny that it is one of the most beautiful locations in the show .
Much of this is owe to The Royal Alcazar ’s flowery architecture , which was inspired by that of the Muslim Moores who once live there . Built upon one of these schematic settlements , the castle is one of the homes of Spain ’s royal family .
The fact thatin Spain there were two choice locations for different regions of Westerosthat were culturally very distinguished speak volume for the nation ’s mixed history . It ’s particularly enthralling that the location used for the many palace of Dorne was build by the same historical Spanish demographic that The Castle of Zafra was built to guard against .
Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
Shane’s Caste, Northern Ireland
Winterfell, Dragonstone, And Various Others
Westeros is a varied dry land , and the difference between the Seven Kingdoms signify thatGame of Throneshad to film in a variety of locations . While Spain provided an incredibly appropriate likeness of Dorne , for the more northerly region of Westeros , Northern Island proved itself to be the best emplacement — specially the historic Shane ’s Castle . Many fans know that Northern Ireland was used extensively for scene in Winterfell , Dragonstone , and just about any surface area between the Wall and King ’s landing place .
What they may not have intercourse , however , is that Northern Ireland is home to a castle whose entrails were the slew of one of the show ’s darkest moments . Shane ’s Castle ’s dilapidate pit may not resemble the gorgeous oceanfront of King ’s landing place , but its dungeon was used by a radicalize High Sparrow to impel confessions of guilt out of prisoners . Not even Cersei Lannister was safe , and it was here where the most powerful woman in Westeros met her match .
However , the literal castle does n’t have as gruesome or bloody a chronicle as the places it come to be used for inGame of Thrones,(or at least , no more gruesome or bloody than any other medieval castle).The ruins of Shane ’s Castle can be find near County Antrim , and was built in the mid-1300s , and stand proud until it a fire in the nineteenth century ruin almost all the bodily structure beyond the Harlan Fisk Stone wall and foundations .
Westeros is a huge place , and it ’s composed of many interesting area , venue , and city . Here is a fact about each major Game of Thrones location .
Kirkjufell Mountain, Iceland
Arrowhead Mountain
Not all of the real number - lifeGame of Throneslocations are historical castling or palace . While the scenes north of the wall could bery well have been created in a studio apartment with CGI , the show - runners rather chose to use real - life position to ensure Jon Snow ’s journey was just as visually breathless as his plot - arcs were tense and enchanting . For this , the form and bunch ofGame of Thronesflew out to Iceland to shoot around the iconic Kirkjufell Mountain .
Known in the series as Arrowhead Mountain , Kirkjufell isone of the most famed mount in all of Iceland , and is a democratic holidaymaker destination . Located on an island on the tip of the country ’s westerly coast , the mass extend breathtaking view from the mainland andstands over 1500 ft at its crest . With its whirl rock formation , the mountain almost resemble a soft - serve ice cream strobilus .
InGame of Thrones , however , the mountain is not a seraphic sight . settle Frederick North of the wall , deeply within White Walker territory , the passel loom in the background of a number of vision Bran Stark hasof the Night Kingand his minions . Somewhat ironically , given how dangerous the location is inGame of Thrones , in Icelandic the name literally translates to " Church Mountain " .
Ait Benhaddou, Morocco
Yunkai
The ancient walled city of Ait Benhaddou is one of Morocco ’s most popular tourist finish . Perhaps the oldest gentleman - made turning point on this list , the metropolis is a world inheritance website that has endure for thousands of geezerhood . There ’s already enough reason to visit this hive of history and culture , but its use as a stand - in for one ofGame Of Throne ’s most important city is what really seals the business deal .
Ait Benhaddou was used to represent Yunkai , one of the southern slave urban center that Daenerys Targaryen captures and liberates during her crusadeduringGame of Thronesseasons 3 - 6.While Yunkai eventually falls back into enemy hands , the city is still an important step in her quest to the Iron Throne .
Game of Thronesisn’t the only spectacular TV show or movie to be filmed in or around Ait Benhaddou , as it was also used forLawrence of Arabia , The Living Daylights , The Mummy , Gladiator , andKingdom of Heaven .
The real Yunkai fromGame of Thronesis widely agreed to havebeen built in the eleventh century , though it was settled much earlier than this due to its prime emplacement on an historical van route connecting the city of Marrakesh to a act of settlements on the opposite side of the Sahara desert .
Ait Benhaddou is specially unequalled among theGame of Thronesfilming locations as it is n’t a castle but an entire ksar or , as they ’re sometimes referred to , ighrem — a specific kind of settlement consisting of hard fortify villages that are more - or - less unequalled to the Arabic world of Northern Africa .
Downhill Beach, Northern Ireland
Dragonstone
Much like Iceland with the towering Kirkjufell Mountain , Northern Ireland had plenty of natural landscape that made for perfectGame of Thronesshooting locations , such as the serene andscenic Downhill Beach , also sleep with as Downhill Strand or Berone Strand . A beautiful beach on Northern Ireland ’s northerly coast , Downhill offers a scenic coastline , lavish waves , and majestic cliff .
Downhill Beach was used inGame of Thronesto stand for Dragonstone , which — much like the other prominentGoTshooting position in Northern Ireland , Shane ’s Castle — has a far less blooming and trigger-happy chronicle than the Westeros location it became in the show . Dragonstone is one of the most historic locations inGame of Thrones , with a history that stretches back to the early year of the sovereignty of the Targaryens .
The abode of House Targaryen , the area fall into the hands of Stannis Baratheon , who used it as a base of operations during the War of Five Kings . It was the shorefront at Downhill where the Lord of Light ’s forfeit were performed , and where Daenerys knelt upon her return .
The locations in Game of Thrones have become iconic , but how do they compare to their descriptions in A Song of Ice and Fire ?
Castle de Trujilo, Spain
Casterly Rock
Outside perhaps Kings Landing and Winterfell , one of the most well - know and on a regular basis referenced locations in Westeros is Casterly Rock , the household of the Lannisters . It ’s an telling and presentiment fort that more - than - suits the household that call it home , andthe originative squad behindGame of Thronesmanaged to capture the mount as described in George R. R. Martin ’s novels perfectly thanks to Spain ’s Castle de Trujilo .
Another defense against the Moores , Trujilo Castle — or , as it ’s also known in Spanish , the Alcazaba de Trujillo — retains its old world magical spell , and centuries later persist a choice example of Medieval architecture . InGame Of Thrones , the palace played the part of Casterly Rock , the home of House Lannister , but was also used for various picture in Highgarden — a moderately ironic fact , given that the Tyrell ’s proved themselves to be one of the Lannister ’s most formidable foes .
have extensively in the 7th time of year , the real castling that became Casterly Rock was also used in establishing shots during the struggle to take Highgarden from the Tyrells . It was here where Jaime learned the truth of who wasresponsible for Joffrey ’s decease , and where Olenna Tyrell uttered the line : " assure Cersei , I want her to know it was me . "
Lovrijenac Fortress, Croatia
The Red Keep
start with season 2 , all of King ’s landing place was shot in the Mediterranean coastal city of Dubrovnik , which is locate in Croatia . Filled with medieval building , the Ithiel Town is a popular holidaymaker attractiveness . It ’s one of the oldest sites that was used as a shoot emplacement inGame of Thrones , as the metropolis has been a densely populated settlement since the 7th C , when it was a protectorate of the Byzantine Empire .
build up sometime between 1018 and 1038 , Lovrijenac Fortress was a crucial location throughout most of Dubrovnic ’s chronicle .
Of all theGame of Thronesfilming locations , the Lovrijenac Fortress in Croatia is perhapsthe one with a history that ’s ( almost ) as turbulent and steeped in regional political science as the stead in Westeros it was used for . Built sometime between 1018 and 1038 , Lovrijenac Fortress was a crucial positioning throughout most of Dubrovnic ’s story . It was notably one of the location that the citizen of Dubrovnik mounted an ultimately - fruitless electrical resistance to the invading forces of the Republic of Venice during the start of their rule over the urban center between 1205 and 1358 .
It was also the scene of one ofGame of Thrones ' biggest fight . Set on an island just off of Dubrovnik ’s coast , Lovrijenace Fortress is the real Red Keep fromGame of Thrones , and was a principle shoot emplacement during much of the series . It was here where Lannister forces gathered in prediction of Stanis Baratheon ’s invasion . Of course , the would - be king suffered a crippling frustration , when his navy was decimate by wildfire .
Doune Castle, Scotland
The Courtyard Of Winterfell
Northern Ireland is far from the only territory in the United Kingdom with impressive diachronic fortifications , andthe ruins of Doune Castle in Scotland were a keyGame of Thronesfilming locating from the earliest season . TheGame of Thronescreative team were incredibly smart with how they utilized real - world locations to make an reliable feel for Westeros . This was often achieved by either using the same real - man location to represent multiple place in the Seven Kingdoms , or — as is the case with Doune Castle — using rook and fortifications that are miles asunder in realism .
Whilemost of Winterfell ’s sceneswere shaft in Northern Ireland , the historical Scottish fastness of Doune Castle was used for several major momentsthat took spot in the base of the Starks , specifically in the courtyard . The exterior will believably depend unfamiliar to mostGame of Thronesfans for this cause , but once inside the wall , Doune Castle becomes instantly familiar .
As well asGame of Thrones , Doune Castle was also a key film location for the 1974 comedyMonty Python and the Holy Grail . It was used in several scenes to represent various unnamed castle , and featured in such classic bit as the " Knights of the Round Table " routine , and the East Wall was the fortification from which John Cleese excellently shout out " Your female parent was a hamster , and your founding father smelt of elderberries " .
A bandstand - in for Winterfell ’s court , the 13th hundred Scottish rook was the position for a telephone number of pivotal scenes in the show . Notably , the courtyard of Doune Castle was the location for the scene when Robert Baratheon and his mob entered in the very firstGame of Thronesepisode , and where Daenerys meet the Stark family at the commencement of time of year 8 .
Game of Thrones may be over , but the words of iconic persona like Eddard Stark and Tyrion Lannister linger on . Here are some of the best quotes .
Castle Ward, Northern Ireland
A Key Part Of Winterfell
While Castle Doune and Shane ’s Castle were polar office of the Winterfell fans ofGame of Thronesknow and love , one of the most important real - world locations used to create the home of the Starks is the northerly Irish estate of Castle Ward . Not just a castle , but a large coordination compound of different diachronic buildings , Castle Ward is a Ithiel Town unto itself . While not from the chivalric era , the rook retained many of the architectural aspects of that time to make it suffer out among Northern Ireland ’s statuesque homes .
While the main house is the most visible location , it ’s the area in and around the tugboat house on the prop everyGame Of Thronesfan will agnise . The pillar features conspicuously in nearly every conniption in Winterfell , and is by far its most visible feature . There ’s even a digital rendition of the tower in a number of establishing shots of the kingdom .
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Based on George R. R. Martin ’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel serial publication , Game of Thrones is a fantasy dramatic play set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos . It follows noble sept like the Starks , Lannisters , and Targaryen vying for ascendance of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North . The series receive significant critical success and amassed a firm buff base due to its high product values , sprawl set , iconic characters , and disgraceful twists .
