Alcazar of Seville water gardens of Dorna. Through the water gardens of Dorna or Seville's Alcazar. Grjötagya - "You Know Nothing, Jon Snow"

The water gardens of Dorne from the television series “Game of Thrones” are not expensive studio sets, but centuries-old picturesque palaces and colorful parks of Spanish Seville. One look at all this luxury and beauty is enough to understand why the Lannisters were so interested in establishing relations with the Martells. So let's take a look behind the scenes.

A real fever swept the world from the very first episode of “Game of Thrones” - a television adaptation of the series of novels “A Song of Ice and Fire” by the American writer George Martin. However, an exciting plot is just one of the components of success. When choosing locations for filming, the creators of the television project, David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, paid attention to the uniqueness and originality of a particular place, which conveys a certain emotional atmosphere. Thus, for example, the water gardens of Dorne are not expensive studio decorations, but centuries-old picturesque palaces and colorful parks of Alcázar de Sevilla - the royal alcazar of Spanish Seville.

Doran Martell and Ellaria Sand during a heated conversation. The Alcazar's lush gardens provide a fittingly fairy-tale setting for the film.

Gardens with history

The amazing terraced gardens around the Alcazar are filled with peace and comfort. This magnificent garden and park complex consists of several independent gardens: the Garden of Mercury, the Garden of the Marquis de la Vega Inclan, the Great Garden, the Garden of the Cross, the Galera Garden, the Garden of Troy, the Orange Grove, the Garden of Flowers, the Garden of Poets, the Labyrinth and others. The gardens were laid out here back in the 9th century, during Arab rule, and have changed throughout its history. Thus, their appearance contains features of many styles - Moorish, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque. The gardens are located on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, which was sung in his poems by A.S. Pushkin. This is the only navigable river to the city of Seville. The garden and park ensemble, stemming from Mediterranean culture, mixed a wide variety of styles depending on the moods and preferences of the kings who built their residences here. The upper chambers of the Alcazar are still used by the royal family as their official residence in Seville.

The mixture of Moorish architecture and colorful mosaics with Arabic ornaments became decisive in the appearance of the Alcazar. Sculptural elements, like this fountain, attract attention with their sophistication.

Before entering the gardens, admire the architecture of Seville's Alcazar, an ensemble of royal palaces with a thousand-year history. The modern appearance of the Alcazar began to take shape at the beginning of the 8th century, after the conquest of Seville by the Arabs. In the 11th and 12th centuries, craftsmen from Toledo and Granada, as well as local builders, added other buildings to the Alcazar ensemble, such as the Venedictiones Palace, as well as luxurious courtyards.

The light-colored architecture with hints of orange provides a breathtaking contrast to the rich green colors of the Alcazar's flora.

If you look from the balconies at the beauty of the sprawling gardens, you will certainly notice the uniqueness of the complex, which has absorbed the features of many eras. What was your choice? To the Moorish Patio del Crucero - an ancient courtyard from the 12th century? Or maybe the modern complexes of the English garden, the garden of poets or the garden of the Marquis de la Vega Inclan?

The spacious gardens of the Seville Alcazar have many small, inconspicuous features: there is a frequent use of old columns, arches, a large number of fountains, and ponds. The old trees and palm trees are impressive with their grandeur, inviting guests into their saving shade.

The overall ensemble of the gardens is amazing. Here, openwork carved arches, cozy balconies, greenery and blue water coexist so harmoniously that such a place can safely be called a corner of paradise! A beautiful gallery runs through the entire complex, where palm trees, orange and lemon trees, slender cypress trees, planted in rows, alternate with neatly trimmed jasmine and myrtle bushes are intricately intertwined. The presence of a large number of citrus trees and ponds here creates a feeling of coolness.

The hedge forms a picturesque labyrinth.

In addition to 170 species of exotic plants that grow on an area of over 60,000 m2, in the gardens you can see a whole gallery of grottoes, sculptures, canals and ponds, fountains, for example, like the Neptune Fountain in the Dam Garden.

One of the parts of the garden complex is the magnificent Mercury Pond. It is located just above the garden area, so one gets the feeling that the statue of the god Mercury, installed in the center of the pond, seems to be watching everything that is happening.

In the flower garden there is another picturesque pond decorated with tiles.

And under the del Crucero patio there are cisterns to collect rainwater from the Baños de Doña María de Padilla. They got their name in honor of the beloved of Pedro the Cruel, who took baths here.

You can walk endlessly around the Alcazar of Seville. Closing your eyes for a moment, you can clearly travel back to past centuries and imagine how Kings Alfonso X., Pedro I or Charles V walked here, who could tell us their heartbreaking stories. Did you know that the Prince's Garden got its name because Queen Isabella of Castile gave birth to her son Juan in a room whose windows overlooked this very garden? Is there a gazebo in the Jardín del Cenador garden where Charles V loved to spend summer evenings?

Even at first glance, it is clear that the atmosphere prevailing here made it easy for the actors to get into character.

Water gardens in Game of Thrones and reality

In Game of Thrones, the lush and lush region of Dorne, both geographically and climatically, is the complete opposite of the harsh and ascetic fortresses of the North, where the series begins. Sweltering heat prevails here, and the landscape bears the imprint of desert and constant drought. The exception is the water gardens, which are located in the eastern part of the region, in the southeast of the capital Sunspear, on the shores of the Summer Sea. Here lives the Dornish prince Doran Martell, who suffered from gout and lost the ability to walk and therefore moves in a chair on wheels.

Doran Martell is the head of the House of Martell. His people and his own family rather react negatively to his excessive calmness. He spends most of his time in water gardens, watching children frolic.

In both the book and the series, the water gardens serve as an oasis of calm in the heart of an uninhabitable country, combining Arabic and Moroccan influences. The rulers of Dorne rest here, their minor children and bastards live here, as well as the children of lords and merchants. The palace, made of pale pink marble, stands on the seashore. There are many ponds and fountains in which children splash, hiding from the scorching sun in the shade of spreading palm trees.

One of the fabulous corners of the water gardens. The entrance with columns, overgrown with lush southern vegetation, is a place where you can be alone with yourself and read an interesting book.

"We had a lot of luck finding a suitable location because the Spanish government had consistently turned down proposals to film at the Alcazar," says Michael Slovis, director of the first two episodes. For the entire film crew - from makeup artists, costume designers to actors - the filming location turned out to be a real find.

Jaime Lannister was accompanied in his enterprises by the professional mercenary Bronn (played by Jerome Flynn), whose heart was won by one of the Vipers, Tien.

Nell Tiger Free, who plays Myrcella Baratheon, spoke about her first impression of the filming location: “When I first visited the Alcazar, I was breathtaking from what I saw. Seville's Alcazar simply dazzled with its lavish architecture and lush gardens." The colors and ornaments of the palace complex were inspired by the costumes, which absorbed all the originality of Spain of the 14th - 15th centuries. Thus, the Dornish clothing is dominated by yellow and orange shades combined with a large number of curls and decorative stitching.

Tyene - one of the three "Sand Snakes" - is surrounded by the guards of House Martell. Nymeria, Obara and Tyene are the illegitimate daughters of the Dornish prince Oberyn Martell.

Ser Jaime Lannister, played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, also graced the water gardens with his presence. However, his approach was a little rough.

Filming season five in Seville's beautiful Alcazar, the production team set themselves high standards because this magnificent landscaped complex is part of the ancient royal palaces of Europe, which is still used as a residence by the Spanish royal family when they stay in Seville. In addition, the architecture and gardens of the Alcazar correspond to the era of the Moors, and throughout its history only in the 14th century its appearance underwent some changes that have survived to this day. It is therefore not surprising that the Royal Alcazar of Seville was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987.

Filming of one of the most popular, sought-after and expensive television series in history - “Game of Thrones” - was carried out in various parts of the world.

The team filming the film version of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire had to travel virtually the whole world to do this. Yes, that’s right - King’s Landing has very real geographical coordinates in our world, and the White Walkers also come from a very specific place. Let's find out exactly where the most striking episodes were filmed.

You might want to visit these places and find yourself inside the exciting television saga.

Spain

Spain contributed to the series with its picturesque locales in the latest (currently) fifth season of Game of Thrones. But it was an exceptionally bright and effective debut. The amazing Seville spread out before the audience, which on the screens turned into the capital of Dorne.

When the Andalusians found out what kind of film crew would soon come to them, it caused an unprecedented emotional upsurge among the local residents. And when the recruitment of 550 people for extras was announced, the real excitement began. The project headquarters and production center, which was located in the town of Osuna, received 86 thousand applications from all over Andalusia in a matter of days. For comparison, the entire population of Osuna is 17,973 people.

Alcazar of Seville - Water Gardens, Dorne

The picturesque palaces and colorful parks of Seville were chosen to depict Dorne as it appears in the original work - the rich and luxurious home of the Martells. One look at all this beauty and wealth is enough to understand why the Lannisters were so interested in establishing relations with the Martells.

In the fifth season, viewers can enjoy how the real “earthly” Alcazar of Seville turns into the Water Gardens - the most picturesque country estate of the Martell family. The amazing combination of young Sand Snakes frolicking in the pools and gardens of the palace and adults weaving terrible intrigues is truly “invigorating”.

According to some unverified reports, in future seasons we will be shown an underground reservoir of the Martell Castle, similar to the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul.

Osuna Bullring - Meereen Arena

One of the most poignant moments of the fifth season of the series was a real massacre in the arena of Meereen. In our world, this is the bullring in Osuna. In Game of Thrones, the main characters in this arena were, of course, not bulls. We will feel sorry for those who have not yet watched the fifth season, and we will not give away the secrets of the film. Let's just say that, according to D. B. Weiss, it took a whole 17 days to shoot just one of the scenes, not counting the work on special effects.

Long before the release of the season, the managers of the local restaurant Casa Curro, well aware that after the premiere a powerful stream of tourist fans would pour in, renamed some menu items. So, the restaurant introduced dishes “Khalisi”, “Jon Snow”, “Melisandre” and others in the same spirit.

Roman Bridge, Cordoba - Long Bridge, Volantis

In Game of Thrones, our “earthly” Spanish Cordoba became the largest of the Free Cities, and the amazing Roman Bridge was transformed into the fantasy Long Bridge. In fact, the Spanish Guadalquivir River is disproportionately smaller than the fabulous Royne, but modern cinematography easily solved the problem of impressive proportions.

Morocco

Actress Emilia Clarke had to travel a lot during the filming of the series - just like her alter ego - Daenerys Targaryen, Mother of Dragons. Episodes with the last of the Targaryens were filmed in Croatia, Morocco and Malta. In Morocco, the task was to recreate Essos - a hot and sunny continent.

Ait Benhaddou - Yunkai and Pentos

After the release of famous episodes of the series, tourist traffic in Morocco increased significantly. Many fans wanted to personally repeat Daenerys’ entire journey through Slaver’s Bay and the Free Cities. Most of all, tourists (and filmmakers) liked the Moroccan ksar Ait Ben Haddou. The fortified city sits majestically on a hill a hundred kilometers from the capital Marrakesh in the middle of the hot desert - an ideal location for filming the necessary episodes of Game of Thrones. These walls still remember how, centuries ago, trade caravans loaded with a wide variety of goods entered the city.

It must be said that this Moroccan fortress appears in many famous films - “The Pearl of the Nile”, “Gladiator”, “The Mummy”, “Jesus of Nazareth”, “Alexander”. Feature films have been filmed here regularly since the 60s of the last century. The ancient ksar looks very authentic.

As for “Game of Thrones,” Ait-Ben-Haddou “starred in the role” of two fantasy cities at once – free Pentos and slave-owning Yunkai.

Essaouira - Astapor

In the series, Astapor is located south of Yunkai. In our world, everything is geographically somewhat different. Essaouira, which is transformed into Astapor in the movies, is located west of Ait Benhaddou - on the Atlantic coast. It was in this place that Daenerys was engaged in exciting negotiations to purchase eight thousand Unsullied.

An interesting historical fact is that in the 60-70s of the last century, when the hippie era reigned, Cat Stevens, together with the legendary Jimi Hendrix, unwittingly turned Essaouira into a real Mecca for hippies around the world. Hendrix lived here for five whole years and even planned to buy out an entire block for hippie tourists to live in.

Until now, this small fishing village, with its particularly relaxed atmosphere, is actively visited by travelers and connoisseurs of Hendrix’s work.

Atlas Studios, Ouarzazate - Free Cities and Slaver's Bay

Ouarzazate is of interest to connoisseurs of good cinema in itself, separately from the films shot in this place. And this is because five kilometers from the city is the world's largest film studio in terms of area, Atlas Studios. 20 hectares of filming space is truly a record in the history of the film industry.

In addition to “Game of Thrones,” “Gladiator,” “Prince of Persia,” “Babel,” and “Spy Games” were filmed here. And for Hollywood star Brad Pitt and cult director Ridley Scott, these places are practically their second home.

Iceland

If Daenerys (and especially Emilia Clarke) was very lucky in the climate scenario, then Jon Snow found himself in completely opposite conditions - in the harsh snows of Iceland. His enemies, the wildlings, are accustomed to such a climate, but the “ravens” had a hard time. The only consolation during filming was the “dragon glass” lying everywhere in the volcanic expanses of Iceland.

Grjötagya - "You know nothing, Jon Snow"

The picturesque grotto where Ygritte utters her usual words for the last time - “You know nothing, Jon Snow” - we are unlikely to see in the new seasons of the series. Moreover, it is a must-visit when traveling to Iceland.

In the real world, this place has the unpronounceable name Grjötagja. This volcanic cave is located in the northeast of the island nation near Lake Mivan. Like many other places in Iceland, the cave is characterized by the contrast of “ice and fire” - outside the cave there is always snow and ice, and in the lake itself inside the cave the water temperature sometimes reaches 50 degrees.

Grjötagya is especially popular among tourists, especially couples. A gloomy, but indescribably beautiful place has a special romantic charm even without reference to the film, and for fans looking for romance it seems like something truly special.

Dimmuborger - Wildling Camp

We have already said that the Grjotagya grotto is located near Lake Mivan. So, the Dimmuborger lava fields are directly adjacent to this lake. This place fits extremely well into the narrative of the series, especially since in reality Dimmuborger is considered in Icelandic folklore to be an extremely “bad”, devilish place where those very trolls live, who are distinguished by their exceptional bloodthirstiness.

In the film, this is where the King of the Wildlings, Mance Rayder, set up camp.

Vatnajökull - Lands Beyond the Wall

The amazing diversity of Iceland's landscapes has more than once saved the Game of Thrones crew from the need to build expensive sets. Nature itself provided fantastic landscapes completely free of charge.

Thus, the largest glacier in Iceland with its deserted snowy deserts easily turned into the Lands Beyond the Wall. Nowadays, the tourism infrastructure in Vatnajökull is actively developing, hotels and restaurants are “proliferating” for the ever-increasing flow of tourists.

Hoefdabrekka, Vik and Myrdalur - Fangs of Frost

Höfdabrekka is another extremely “hospitable” place in Iceland, where the film crew had to be very stuck due to the short daylight hours - they could only film episodes for a couple of hours a day.

This place, with its black sand on the beach, the active Katla volcano and another glacier with the unpronounceable name Myrdalsjökull, fascinates with its cold grandeur and special infernal aesthetics.

Thingvellir National Park - Riverlands

Did you know that Iceland, like Russia, also has its own Golden Ring? Now you will know. This is a popular tourist destination. The real pearl of Iceland's Golden Circle is Thingvellir, a national park recognized by UNESCO as a world natural heritage site. This place is also almost sacred for every Icelander, since it was in Þingvellir that the Althing, a folk meeting, gathered for a thousand years. In the early Middle Ages - in the year 1000 - it was here that the Icelanders adopted the Christian faith. In 1944, it was here that the country declared independence.

Thingvellir first appears in the series in season 4. Episodes of the journey of Clegane the Hound and his hostage companion Arya Stark were filmed here. This is exactly what the warmest part of summer in Iceland looks like in the series.

Croatia

The Lannister family has always had a characteristic feature - they have always been able to “get comfortable” in every sense. The Starks always lived in permanent anticipation of Winter, the proximity of which ran (and continues) as a refrain throughout the entire series. And the Lannisters with their lions always felt good in their domains. It is not surprising, because in our Universe these places are located in sunny Croatia. And the legendary Iron Throne was erected in the middle of the tourist capital of Croatia, Dubrovnik.

Dubrovnik - King's Landing

Dubrovnik did not lose its status as the capital in the series; on the contrary, it strengthened it, becoming the capital of Westeros. The historical part of Dubrovnik provided the film crew with excellent opportunities for location filming. A perfectly preserved castle with a fortress wall directly abutting the sea waves is almost too good a fantasy picture to be real, but this place really exists.
It is worth noting that the “wild fire” bypassed the location shooting.

Fortunately for the local tourism department, and for the townspeople, the greenish flame that destroyed part of Stannis Baratheon's fleet was just a special effect. But what!

Lovrijenac Fortress - Red Castle

At the very beginning of the series, the Red Castle was actually located in Malta, but literally from the second season the Game of Thrones team decided to move the throne room to the capital. The Croatian fortress Lovrijenac was ideal for this. The majestic ancient structure rises on a cliff 37 meters high, and is located just a five-minute walk from the historical part of Dubrovnik. The city and the fortress are separated by a small bay - it was here that the Battle of Chernovodnaya was filmed live.

It is worth noting an interesting fact. At the entrance to Lovrijenac the motto of the Dubrovnik Republic is engraved - “Non Bene Pro Toto Libertas Venditur Auro” (Freedom is not sold for gold). Considering the ideology of the Lannister family and the behavior of young Joffrey, this inscription looks very bizarre.
Trsteno Arboretum - King's Landing Gardens

Don't forget that King's Landing has repeatedly flaunted its picturesque gardens in the series. To see them in person, it is enough to visit Croatia, namely the Trsteno Arboretum. It is located 10 km from Dubrovnik. Everything here will be more than recognizable to every Game of Thrones fan - gazebos, aqueducts, fountains with statues, galleries entwined with vines - this is where the lion's share of the intrigues that Tyrion and Varys weaved were discussed.

Lokrum - Quart

The small picturesque island of Lokrum in the middle of the Adriatic played a special role in the series. There Lokrum became Qarth - the same picturesque oasis city, but not in the middle of the sea, but in the middle of the desert. The local botanical garden, with its Mediterranean flora, was easily transformed into the gardens and parks of Qarth, where Daenerys and Xaro strolled.

In Game of Thrones, if a traveler was not allowed through by the guards at the gates of Qarth, he would remain forever in the Garden of Bones. In our world, these places are not so uncompromising, and if for some reason a tourist did not get to Lokrum, then just a kilometer away is the same Dubrovnik, where there will definitely be something to do.

Mincheta Tower - House of the Immortals

The mysterious House of the Immortals - the headquarters of the Quart sorcerers - in the reality of our world is located literally next to the place where the Iron Throne is installed, namely in Dubrovnik in the Minceta Tower. In the film, some plots of the book were slightly changed, but in both the book and the series, the fates of the sorcerers and Daenerys’ visions coincide.

Sibenik - Braavos

A very modest Croatian resort - Sibenik - received a serious "promotion" in "Game of Thrones". It was to him that the authors of the series “entrusted” the responsible role of the richest of the Free Cities – Braavos. Šibenik appeared as Braavos only in the fifth season of The Games, but this appearance was more than spectacular.

It’s not surprising, because this is where the mysterious Order of the Faceless Ones is located, where Arya Stark was so eager. And it was here that the no less mysterious Iron Bank, perhaps the most powerful organization in Westeros, was strengthened.

Split - King's Landing

From what we have already said, it becomes clear that the authors of “Game of Thrones” literally assembled King’s Landing as a construction set from various places in the real world. One of these elements was Diocletian's Palace in Croatian Split. It was there that one of the most dramatic scenes of the fifth season of the series was filmed, where the central figure was Cersei at the moment of her greatest ordeal.

Previously, Split, or rather its suburb Zrnovica, already appeared in the epic film. The sheer cliffs of an abandoned quarry became a film set for scenes of Daario's battle with the horseman champion of the city of the Great Lords. The conquest of Meereen was also filmed here.

Klis Fortress - Meereen

15 kilometers from Split there is a small medieval castle, Klis, which has never enjoyed much love from tourists. The fortifications are dilapidated, it is difficult to get to the castle along the steep slopes, and the castle itself in terms of picturesqueness is so-so. But its appearance in “Game of Thrones” sharply fueled tourist interest, because it was on these steep slopes that the scene of the crucifixion of the Great Lords was filmed.

The Meereen City Market also featured here in season five. One of the observation platforms was equipped for him.

Krka National Park - landscapes of Westeros

The Krka National Park also featured in the series, presenting viewers with its indescribable beauty in location shooting of the landscapes of Westeros. Many see similarities in Krka with the famous Plitvice Lakes, so it is not surprising that the film crew could not ignore this unique place.

The most picturesque waterfalls, turquoise lagoons - all this fit perfectly into the visual range of the most spectacular episodes of the series.

Ston - King's Landing

Perhaps the most rapid “career growth” thanks to “Game of Thrones” was experienced by the small Croatian village of Ston, located in the south of the country. In the series, it became the capital of the Seven Kingdoms. The powerful fortress wall and picturesque tiled roofs, properly “seasoned” with special effects, fit perfectly into the overall visual appearance of King’s Landing.

It is noteworthy that even though in reality Ston is really an ordinary village, its fortress wall is quite impressive and without any special effects. In the Middle Ages, this five-kilometer rampart with five fortresses and forty towers more than once took upon itself the first blows of the Ottomans besieging the borders of the Dubrovnik Republic. At that time, they were a real reflection of the current “cinematic” Wildlings.

Northern Ireland

The creators of the Game of Thrones universe populated Northern Ireland mainly with Iron Men - the harsh subjects of Balon Greyjoy. But Ireland's stunning landscapes gave the crew much more opportunities. The Stormlands, the Royal Road, and Winterfell were filmed here, and in the fifth season, Hardhome and Castle Black were also filmed.

Tollymore Forest Park - Forests of the North

Tollymore Park made its debut in Game of Thrones in the very first episodes - when the Starks pick up the direwolf puppies. In our world, Tollymore is as much as 630 hectares of picturesque forests with extremely successful inclusions of mountain rivers, grottoes and caves.

Some places offer colorful views of the sea. The team of the series more than deliberately chose these places to film a number of episodes, and the audience appreciated this choice.

Ward Castle - Winterfell

The luxurious grounds of Ward Castle, located on the shores of Strangford Lough, kindly hosted the series team to film scenes in the Winterfell courtyard. It was here that the exciting episode of the first appearance of Robert Baratheon and his retinue was filmed.

Dark Hedges - Royal Road

The beech alley of Dark Hedges is considered by many to be the most beautiful in the world, and this universal recognition could not fail to be noticed by the Game of Thrones team, which tried in every possible way to collect all the “best” things in the film. These trees are about three hundred years old - they were planted in the 18th century.

The then owners of Gracehill Castle conceived this project in order to make the right impression on guests. But the implementation of the idea turned out to be so successful that it outlived not only its authors, but also more than one generation of their descendants. And now any tourist traveling around Northern Ireland can enjoy the stunning Dark Hedges. Now this place is the most photographed in the country.

In Game of Thrones, the alley turned into part of the main transport artery of Westeros - the King's Road. The road in the film starts in the south at Storm's End and ends in the north at the Wall itself. For those who are “lost” in the seasons, we remind you that you can see the alley-tract in the first two seasons. It is there that Arya Stark, dressed in boyish clothes, goes to join the Night's Watch with her companions - Jaqen H'ghar, Gendry and Yoren.

Murlough Bay - Iron Islands

Almost all of Theon Greyjoy's scenes on Pyke, with the Iron Islands clearly visible in the background, were filmed on the shores of Murlough Bay in northeast Ireland.

It was the islands of Scotland that became the Iron Islands in the fantasy world of Game of Thrones.

Ballintoy Bay - Lordsport

The miniature but exceptionally picturesque Scottish village of Ballintoy in County Antrim has become Lordsport on Pike in the fairy-tale world of Game of Thrones.

It was here that Theon Greyjoy went ashore, arriving to negotiate with his father. From here, Theon will leave the Iron Islands in a few episodes.

Larrybane - Stormlands

Perhaps one of the most formidable and dramatic stretches of Northern Ireland's coastline is Larrybane. It is unlikely that anyone will be left indifferent by its majestic steep cliffs, rising directly above the sea waves. This place was just asking to be included in the series as the Stormlands.

Here the film crew unwittingly created another geographical anomaly - in our world, from Larrybane to the village of Ballintoy (Iron Islands) you can easily walk on foot in less than an hour.

Mussenden Temple and Downhill Beach - Dragonstone

There are hardly many people who associate the coast of Northern Ireland with sandy beaches. However, there are such beaches. One of the most notable is the 11-kilometer Downhill Beach, which the creators of the series expertly used to film episodes on Dragon Stone. Melisandre burned the old gods here.

Cushendun Caverns - Stormlands

The gloomy but majestic Cushendun Caves, located in the northeast of Ireland, literally bursts into the series in the second season. Here a mystical scene unfolds with Melisandre in the title role. The lady sorceress is brought here by Davos Seaworth on the orders of Stannis. Here the priestess gives birth to otherworldly monsters that can radically change the course of the war.

Magheramore - Castle Black and Hardhome

In our real world, Magheramore in County Antrim doesn't even qualify as a village. This place is more like a farm - just a few houses next to an abandoned limestone quarry. Life in this, frankly, dull place changed dramatically when in 2014 the Game of Thrones film crew came here with Jon Snow and all the “crows”.

The old quarry warehouses served well for filming scenes in the barracks of Castle Black. And the terrible bloody battle with the Others in the fifth season was also filmed here - on the shore of the bay. By the way, this battle was not in the book.

Malta

The island state of Malta made an impressive contribution with its attractions to the creation of the most popular and expensive TV series of our time. The country of palaces, forts and fortresses was simply ideal for filming a number of dramatic and colorful scenes. In addition, local authorities went out of their way to facilitate the producers and crew - the country is heavily dependent on tourism, and such a chance to attract guests from all over the world could not be missed. It even got to the point that the president himself provided his personal residence for filming - this is a completely unprecedented fact that deserves respect.

Mdina Gate - King's Landing Gate

The ancient capital of Malta, Mdina, dates back more than 4,000 years. What kind of kingdoms and empires have not been “housed” here for four millennia.

All this historical and cultural heritage has left a lot of traces of its existence - medieval cathedrals, fortress walls, ancient buildings - all this served as the most fruitful basis for filming the most important episodes of the Game of Thrones. At the center of several of them was the main attraction of Mdina - the city gates, which in the series became the gates of the capital of Westeros.

Fort Ricasoli - Red Castle

Fort Ricasoli was built back in the 17th century by the Knights Hospitaller. The fortress survived more than one siege and more than one battle in ancient times. Even in the 20th century, it suffered greatly during the Second World War. Having survived about 3,000 enemy bomber raids over a two-year siege, Malta earned the infamous reputation of being one of the most bombed areas in World War II.

The fort is still in a deplorable state and tourists are not allowed there for their own safety. But the Game of Thrones film crew finally obtained permission to work within the walls of the fort, thus giving viewers a unique opportunity to see how the fortress works inside. Previously, however, the fortress had already appeared in such blockbusters as “Gladiator” and “Troy”. In Game of Thrones, Fort Ricasoli played the role of the Red Castle.

Azure Window - wedding of Daenerys and Drogo

Malta gave the series another picturesque location for filming a more than impressive spectacle - the wedding of Daenerys and Khal Drogo at the very beginning of the fictional narrative. The events took place on the island of Gozo in the vicinity of a 50-meter rocky arch of natural origin.

This arch was once called the “Azure Window” and since ancient times it has been one of the most recognizable symbols of Malta.
It is noteworthy that more than one epic film was filmed here. It’s worth remembering at least “Clash of the Titans” and “Odyssey” by Konchalovsky.

Verdala Palace - Pentos, home of Illyrio Mopatis

Finally, we have come to perhaps the funniest thing, if not in the series, then certainly on its set. Namely, to the summer residence of the President of Malta, which the head of state kindly made available to the film crew.

One of the first scenes of the series was filmed here, when Daenerys and her brother Viserys visit Illyrio Mopatis, the “pimp” who introduced the last Targaryens to Daenerys’ fiance Khal Drogo. In ordinary life in Malta, a simple tourist cannot get inside the palace, but the authorities allow you to stroll through the garden.

San Anton Palace - Red Castle

Verdala Palace is not the only residence of the Maltese president that the Game of Thrones crew “occupied” during filming. The group even managed to agree on a temporary “rent” of the official residence of the president, which is located in Attard within the walls of the San Anton Palace. The palace appears in the scene where Littlefinger and Varys try to convince Eddard Stark of the Golden Cloaks' complete submission to him.

True, the presidential chambers were still not allowed to be photographed - only from outside the building.

Fort Sant'Angelo - catacombs of the Red Castle

The fortress of Sant'Angelo in the city of Birgu used to be called the "Sea Castle". When exactly it was built, no one has yet been able to really determine. However, it is historically reliably known that in the Middle Ages the fort served as the residence of the Grand Master of the Order of the Knights Hospitaller.

A very impressive episode was filmed here with Arya chasing a cat around the Red Keep and ending up in a cave with dragon skulls.

Fort Manoel - Great Sept of Baelor

The medieval fort of Manoel, which belonged to the Knights of Malta, at one time did a good job of guarding the entrance to Marsamxett harbor. In the fantasy world of the series, Manoel became the Great Sept of Baelor.

The steps of the fort were also where the most poignant climactic scene of the first season was filmed, with Sean Bean at the center of the frame.

Scotland

While the lion's share of Game of Thrones' impressive scenes were filmed in Northern Ireland, there was only one location very close by, in Scotland. However, she also played an important role in the film.

Doune Castle - Winterfell

The medieval fortress of Doune, which belonged to the Stuart dynasty hundreds of years ago, is located near Stirling. These places at one time became famous for the battles for the independence of Scotland, in which William Wallace, the same “Braveheart,” became famous. Long before it became Winterfell, the castle featured in the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Now the fortress is in a very sad state, in many ways unwittingly reflecting the fate of Winterfell itself.

USA

Los Angeles

In the seventh episode of the third season of Game of Thrones - The Bear and the Fair Maid, due to legal restrictions and difficulties with transporting large animals, the scenes with the bear Baby Bart had to be filmed in a studio in Los Angeles. Although the location was only intended for filming one scene, it was the fifth country where the series was filmed during the season (after Northern Ireland, Morocco, Croatia and Iceland).

Conclusion

Filming the epic saga, which has long become a cult favorite among a wide variety of television viewers, the film crew traveled halfway around the world. But the series did not end there - filming is actively underway, and no one can yet say for sure when the creators of the outstanding show will decide to wind down the project. Therefore, we are sure that more than one place will appear on the world map, opening an imaginary portal to the fantasy world of “Game of Thrones.”

Even the most ardent fan of the series and George R.R. Martin's books would not want to live in the world of Game of Thrones. Hardly anyone dreams of being a guest at the Red Wedding or even a spectator in the arena for duels. But thanks to the HBO series Game of Thrones, fans of the saga can take a tour to quite peaceful, cozy and beautiful Westeros. In this guide, we'll show you how to find King's Landing and Winterfell, Braavos and the Frozen Wall... right on the map of Europe.

I want to go see the Wall we've heard so much about... stand on top of the Wall and let out a stream from the edge of the world.

Tyrion Lannister, first tourist of the Seven Kingdoms

George Martin stylized his world to resemble the real Middle Ages. Many events in the saga, as well as geographical objects like the Wall, have terrestrial prototypes. The creators of the Game of Thrones series followed the same principle. On the map of Europe there were many remnants of the Middle Ages, which were ideal for creating historical flavor. This could hardly have been achieved with bare special effects and studio sets alone.

Westeros is Croatia

It's easy to see how very different the capital of King's Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms, is in seasons one and two. At first, Ned Stark unraveled palace intrigues on the streets of the cities of Malta, a country that has long been favored by filmmakers and has a developed film infrastructure. Gladiator, Troy and dozens of other Hollywood blockbusters were filmed here. However, the Maltese scenery suffered (if one can suffer from that) from excessive sophistication. By the second season, the creators of Game of Thrones began searching for a more suitable character.

Strong walls of ancient fortresses, narrow streets that smell of antiquity, dense buildings of stone houses... Almost throughout Europe, such places have sunk into the past, giving way to modern avenues, but in Croatia the historical centers of almost every town look like this. It's no surprise that this country has captivated HBO's casting experts. It is with Croatia that the world of Westeros and Essos is now firmly associated in the eyes of fans of the saga.

Having allowed a film crew onto their land, the Croatian authorities did not imagine how it would turn out. In a couple of years, Game of Thrones turned into a popular franchise, and a tourism boom began in Croatia, like in New Zealand during the time of The Lord of the Rings. The country, devastated in the Balkan conflict twenty years ago, suddenly gained attractiveness as a resort, rich in picturesque beaches and history going back centuries - real earthly and fictional Westerosi.

In 2014, over 13 million tourists visited Croatia - almost 20% more than in 2010, when Game of Thrones was still unheard of.

The Croatians clung to the franchise with all their hands and feet and created a maximum favored regime for the film crew. For example, when the local church tried to prohibit the filming of Queen Cersei’s walk near the temples of Dubrovnik (that same naked walk!), the secular authorities of the city quickly resolved the issue in favor of the creators of the series.

King's Landing is Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is the pearl of the Adriatic coast. Previously, tourists were drawn there for architectural monuments, now - also for the flavor of King's Landing, hidden... in the same monuments. In the Old Town, you will often see advertisements inviting you to take a tour of the filming locations. The tour is usually led by one of the many Croatians who acted as extras. Don’t be surprised if, while walking through the picturesque Gradac Park, you meet a respectable lady telling tourists how King Joffrey died right on this square.

Where exactly is it worth visiting in Dubrovnik? First of all, you need to climb the walls of the Old City and walk two kilometers around the perimeter, admiring the famous tiled roofs. Thousands of tourists do this, but with your mental program for creating special effects, draw the Red Castle over the city. And here you are standing next to Tyrion, casting anxious glances at the Blackwater Bay, from where Stannis’s troops are about to arrive...

On the other side of the bay, on a monolithic rock, stands the Lovregnac (St. Lawrence) fortress, an 11th-century stronghold that defended the city from invaders from Venice. Add some medieval draperies to its bare stone walls and the site is ready for a tournament in honor of Joffrey's name day and a dozen more interior scenes. For filming, the series team did not have to splurge on complex studio sets - they were donated by the city itself.

Do not deny yourself the pleasure of walking around the Old Town. Enter through the Saw Gate with the one-armed Jaime, who has returned to King's Landing after being captured. Look to the left, at the area near the wall where Gregor Clegane chopped off heads. Walk along St. Dominic's Street, where at the door of the monastery of the same name a street preacher called for the overthrow of the Lannisters. Climb the Jesuit staircase with a waiter from a nearby cafe, and at the top, at the “Sept of Baelor” (the Church of St. Ignatius), you may be greeted by several young “sparrows” in robes.

Is the Narrow Sea really that narrow? Residents of Dubrovnik joke that yes, it is only 650 meters wide. This is exactly how much separates the Old Town from the island-reserve Lokrum, where the gardens of Qarth from the second season were filmed. Before the earthquake of 1667, there was a Benedictine monastery here, and now peacocks and rabbits walk on its picturesque ruins. The Dubrovnik City Hall intends to open a Game of Thrones exhibition park on Lokrum, so there will soon be another reason to visit here.

Don’t be lazy to go north, where the town of Trsteno is located 30 kilometers from Dubrovnik. In the 15th century, the influential Gučetich family built a garden here with stone pavilions, aqueducts and fountains. Visiting sailors brought them seeds of overseas plants to replenish their collection. And in Westeros, in the same stone pavilions, Grandma Olenna was sarcastically speaking at breakfast, Cersei and Varys were intriguing in the shade of the trees, and Oberyn was writing letters to his homeland by the fountain.

If you are persistent and, going down to the sea itself, enter an inconspicuous arch, you will find yourself on a court with badminton markings, where Jaime trained with the mercenary Bronn to fencing with his left. It was not for nothing that they chose this place for secret training. It’s not easy to find her in life either.

The court where Jaime trained is actually a badminton court

Not every location provides the film crew with ready-made medieval romance. Sometimes virtuoso decorators have to perform a real miracle. Before the Balkan War of the 1990s, the Belvedere, located two kilometers south of Dubrovnik, was an elite five-star hotel and was bursting with guests. Arriving there now, you will see devastation and a lot of graffiti, and instead of tourists you will be greeted only by a lonely meowing kitten. But, if you look closely, you can still easily recognize the very arena where the eyes of one Dornishman with a greatly inflated self-esteem were gouged out.

In 2014, Belvedere was bought by Russian billionaire Viktor Vekselberg with the intention of rebuilding and repopulating it. Its relationship to Game of Thrones is unknown, but if the graffiti was replaced by a lion and a stag, it would certainly enhance the hotel's appeal.

God titek and wine

Peter Dinklage did not disgrace the honor of his hero, Tyrion. Before the start of filming the second season, he met Australian tourists in Dubrovnik and went to drink at their hostel. The next morning, the actor woke up on a couch in the lobby, and no one could remember who he was and where he came from: neither the hotel staff, nor the Australians themselves. But the empty minibar seemed to hint that someone had to pay, and Dinklage had to take the rap for the whole company.

Now the management of the Fresh Sheets hostel is proud of this incident and even hung a memorial plaque: “ Tyrion Lannister slept here (or rather, he passed out here). Welcome to King's Landing!»

Daenerys's domain in Split

By the start of the fourth season, the crew had become attached to Croatia, and when it came time to choose locations for Meereen - the city under the shadow of the pyramids, where Daenerys would rule for two whole seasons - their eyes turned to the north of Dubrovnik.

In Split, the country's second largest city, the historical center even predates the Middle Ages: the vast palace complex of Emperor Diocletian is perfectly preserved from the times of Ancient Rome. The stones here are completely different in color and structure than in Dubrovnik, and therefore Meereen looks very different from King's Landing, although in the real world there are only two hundred kilometers between them. After purchasing a ticket to the palace, immediately go to its western wing. There you can easily recognize the pen for naughty dragons - their “dining hall”, where they feasted on wise masters - and the gallery where Ser Barristan fought with the Sons of the Harpy.

On the mountain northeast of the city lies the Klis fortress, founded in the 3rd century BC by the ancient tribe of Illyrians (not related to Master Illyrio). It looks impregnable, but in fact the fortress was stormed by the Tatar-Mongols, Turks, and Venetians. Daenerys followed tradition when she captured Meereen. Klis dominates its surroundings and fascinates with its unusual architecture. Here you can not only wander the walls of Meereen, but also appreciate the breathtaking views of Split and the Adriatic Sea.

By the fifth season, Croatia managed to accommodate another large location - Braavos. For this abode of canals and bridges, head 10 kilometers west of Split to Kastel Gomilica, a tiny 16th-century coastal town. What is curious is that there is only one bridge here (albeit a long one), and instead of a grandiose canal there is a small parking lot for boats. But this does not prevent you from feeling the spirit of Braavos in every stone tower, every wave hitting the walls of medieval buildings.

Location filming of this free city was carried out in two more places: near the abandoned Hotel Zagreb in Split (where a model of the entrance to the Black and White House was erected) and in the square near the Cathedral of St. James in Sibenik (where fat Mace Tyrell practiced chanting). If you know the real geography, it is very funny when watching the series to watch how the characters “teleport” from one city to another.

Iceland - the land of ice and fire

Iceland has long been a favorite of filmmakers for its “alien” landscapes: this country has a piece of “Interstellar”, “Prometheus” and “Oblivion”, “Noah” and “Batman Begins”, “Thor 2” and “Lara Croft”. This country has appeared in Game of Thrones since the second season, when the heroes went on a campaign through the icy lands beyond the Wall. To recreate the wildling king's camp and the imposing Fangs of Frost, Iceland - a land of glaciers, snowy deserts and excellent filming infrastructure - was the perfect location. It is no less suitable for visiting: in fact, this country is completely geared towards tourism.

The wildling camp, where Jon Snow finds himself at the beginning of the third season, was built near one of the natural phenomena of Iceland - the shallow Lake Mývatn, which was formed 2,300 years ago after the eruption of the Krafla volcano. The same volcano gave birth to bizarre layers of lava (Dimmuborgir Park) and stone columns sticking straight out of the water (Höfdi), among which wild people walked.

For a special experience, head to the nearby Grötagya Cave. The crystal clear water inside the cave due to the hot spring reaches a temperature of 50ºC - as soon as Jon Snow and Ygritte did not get scalded while swimming? By the way, the surrounding signs insistently ask not to swim in Grötagje (or better not to go inside at all due to the danger of collapse), although before the filming of the episode “Kissed by Fire” there were no such precautions. Probably our bathing heroes broke something there...

In the fourth season, we were finally able to admire summer Iceland, in the scenery of which the Hound and Brienne were kicking each other, Littlefinger was walking Sansa, and Steer (Yuri Kolokolnikov) was raiding the village. In the geography of Westeros, these places are very far from each other, but they were all filmed in the vicinity of Thingvellir National Park, located 30 kilometers east of Reykjavik and included in all tourist guides.

The park lies on the fault of two lithospheric plates - North American and Eurasian. The canyon between two mountain ranges is monolithic and impregnable - what is needed to recreate the Valley of Arryn. You just need to add special effects to the Bloody Gate and place crossbowmen on the tops of the ridges.

Most castles are from Northern Ireland

Much of the series was filmed in Northern Ireland. But tourists are not allowed to see the interiors of the Red Keep and the Great Sept of Baelor, see the Moon Door in the Eagle's Nest and Daenerys' throne room in Meereen. These and dozens of other locations were filmed behind closed doors at Paint Hall Studios in Belfast. Unless you are Queen Elizabeth II, who is eager to get a better look at the Iron Throne, the path there is closed to you.

But even so, Northern Ireland is worth a visit. There are so many memorable places here and they are so widely scattered along the eastern coast of the country that you need to prepare for a multi-day excursion tour. Fortunately, it’s impossible to get lost here: there are even signs on the roads like “Welcome to Ballintoy Bay, also known as the harbor of the Iron Islands.” And a photo of Theon Greyjoy in the local surroundings - as proof.

Tourists usually like it when the weather is clear and sunny, but the abandoned quarry of Magheramorne, half an hour north of Belfast, is best visited in the fog. The sets of Castle Black at the Wall were built here; right next door, the last stronghold of the wildlings from the “Hardhome” series was rebuilt. And the silhouettes of white walkers riding dead stallions, which you will see at the top of the sheer wall of the quarry, will give this visit a special poignancy.

If you only have a day to spare and want to make the most of the experience, feel free to head south of Belfast to Ward Castle. Filming has been going on here for six seasons in a row, and the area is changing as its on-screen counterpart, Winterfell, changes. The owners of Ward Castle are happy to host tourists and offer them “throne-like” attractions: for example, you can do archery in the Winterfell backyard.

At the local information center, be sure to pick up a map of hiking routes around the castle with marked points. Here Bran fell from the tower, there Tywin was camped, and here King Robert had a picnic with Ned Stark.

It would take more than one article to describe the serial places of Northern Ireland, so we will briefly dwell on the most striking ones. Beach lovers are recommended to visit Downhill Beach in the north of the country, where Melisandre burned the idols of the Andal gods, and then look at neighboring Portstewart. It’s a little cold to swim there, but fighting with the Dornish guards is just right, as Jaime and Bronn tested for themselves in the fifth season.

A little to the east, near the town of Armoy, is the dark beech alley of Dark Hedges - one of the most photographed places in the country. In the series, she portrayed the Royal Highway. In the southern part of Northern Ireland, take a look at the gloomy but picturesque forest park of Tollymore: it was here that a dead dire wolf was found, Bran met the Reed family, and walkers attacked the watchmen in the prologue of the first series.

Spain: Season Five and Beyond

Game of Thrones came to Spain only in 2014, when the creators needed to film several exotic southern locations. All of them occurred in the southern region of the country, Andalusia. Here you can explore the legendary Seville Alcazar Palace, which embodied Dorne in the series, admire the Roman Bridge in Cordoba - the on-screen Volantis, and visit the Plaza de Toros arena in the town of Osuna, where Daenerys staged fights with gladiators and dragons.

At first it was a compact tourist route that could be covered in a day and a half. But it is growing quickly. Spain somehow caught the attention of the creators of the series - perhaps due to favorable conditions for filming or the pristine antiquity of the buildings. When it was necessary to refresh the visuals and add new southern locations, Game of Thrones came to Spain again - it seems, in earnest and for a long time.

Among the new locations is a lonely fortress on a rock in the middle of the plain in the town of Campillo de Duenas, a prototype of the Dornish Tower of Joy. In season six, we saw her in a flashback vision of Bran.

The creators also attracted the attention of the town of Peñiscola in the Valencia region, where the Knights Templar built an extremely photogenic castle in the 13th century, which has been perfectly preserved to this day. Now the city of Meereen has found its new refuge in it. Filming also took place in the desert of Bardenas Reales (province of Navarre), where the Dothraki nomad camp was recreated for Daenerys' new adventures.

And in the old quarters of Catalan Girona, scenes from Braavos and King's Landing were filmed: a theatrical production at Plaza Dels Jurats, the Tramp's pursuit of Arya through the narrow medieval streets and the grandiose confrontation between the "sparrows" and Jaime on a white horse in front of the Girona Cathedral.

Where else was Game of Thrones filmed?

The Azure Window on the island of Gozo (Malta), against which the wedding of Khal Drogo and Daenerys took place, and a dozen other Maltese locations from the first season.
Fort Essaouira in Morocco, where the powerful gentlemen of Astapor showed Daenerys the army of the Unsullied.
Doune Castle in Scotland - Winterfell in the pilot episode of the first season. It was later re-shot, and there was almost no Scotland left in the final version.
The Los Angeles studio where the Harrenhal fighting pit was built. American laws did not allow the bear named Bart to be taken to Northern Ireland.

If you are gathered in the places of military glory of the Starks and Lannisters. Plan your route in advance and mark the points you want to visit. Find out what scenes were filmed there and refresh your experience by rewatching them. Many locations are hidden from view or not obvious. You may not even realize that you have already arrived at the right place and this cozy area with a stone table is the same one where Ser Dontos gave Sansa the surprise necklace.

If you hate planning everything, book a tour at one of the local information centers. The guide will not only take you to all the interesting places, but will also show you photographs so that you can compare the picture from the film and the view in reality. A walking tour of Dubrovnik with a guide will take about three hours; in Northern Ireland, due to distances, you will have to take a bus tour - for a day, or even several.

If you are gathered in places of military glory in the midst of filming the new season. Not a good idea. In recent years, the security service has become much stricter. Because of filming, the authorities of the location city can easily block access to half of the historical center, and you will only have to admire the trucks with props. You most likely won’t even get into the castles themselves - the cashier at the entrance will say: “They’re filming something there, so keep a ticket to half the palace for half the price.”

But if you still want to, filming for the season usually runs from August to November. The movement of the film crew can be tracked on fan sites - for example, watchersonthewall.com. You certainly won’t be able to do without Westerosi flavor: in street cafes you will certainly meet extras having lunch in their stage costumes. And the flag of the Lannisters or Targaryens will rise over the ancient walls of the city.

Game of Thrones Museum

Do you want to see with your own eyes Joffrey’s crown and Margaery’s wedding dress, Jaime’s severed hand and the white walker’s ice blade, or even sit on the real Iron Throne? Every year, before the release of the new season, a traveling “Game of Thrones” exhibition begins operating, where everyone can view the props of the series: weapons and armor, jewelry, outfits and iconic items.

The museum makes stops in major cities in Europe and America: for example, in 2015 it visited London, Stockholm, Madrid, Amsterdam, Tel Aviv, Berlin and Comic-Con in San Diego.

Often at an exhibition you can see props that have not yet appeared on the screen. So, even before the release of the fifth season, the public was shown harpy masks, weapons of Oberyn’s daughters and the “snake package” that Cersei received from Dorne. Visitors are also entertained with attractions using virtual reality: you will experience many thrills by climbing the Wall in a creaky elevator, observing the mesmerizing landscapes... and falling head over heels from the very top. Sometimes actors come here too, most often Liam Cunningham (Davos) and John Bradley (Sam).

The exhibition travels around the world from February to June. To know when and where to catch it, check out gotexhibit.com. But be patient to wait in a three-hour queue. Entrance to the museum is usually free, and there are more and more Game of Thrones fans every year.

Doran Martell and Ellaria Sand during a heated conversation. The Alcazar's lush gardens provide a fittingly fairy-tale setting for the film.

Gardens with history

Before getting to, enjoy the architecture of the Alcazar of Seville - an ensemble of royal palaces with a thousand-year history. The modern appearance of the Alcazar began to take shape at the beginning of the 8th century, after the conquest of Seville by the Arabs. In the 11th and 12th centuries, craftsmen from Toledo and Granada, as well as local builders, added other buildings to the Alcazar ensemble, such as the Venedictiones Palace, as well as luxurious courtyards.

The light-colored architecture with hints of orange provides a breathtaking contrast to the rich green colors of the Alcazar's flora.

If you look from the balconies at the beauty of the sprawling gardens, you will certainly notice the uniqueness of the complex, which has absorbed the features of many eras. What was your choice? To the Moorish Patio del Crucero - an ancient courtyard from the 12th century? Or maybe the modern English complexes, the garden of poets or the garden of the Marquis de la Vega Inclan?

The overall ensemble of the gardens is amazing. Here, openwork carved arches, cozy balconies, greenery and blue water coexist so harmoniously that such a place can safely be called a corner of paradise! A beautiful gallery runs through the entire complex, where palm trees planted in rows, orange and lemon trees, slender cypress trees, alternating with neatly trimmed jasmine and jasmine bushes are intricately intertwined. The presence of a large number of citrus trees and ponds here creates a feeling of coolness.

The hedge forms a picturesque labyrinth.

In the flower garden there is another picturesque pond decorated with tiles.

You can walk around endlessly. Closing your eyes for a moment, you can clearly travel back to past centuries and imagine how Kings Alfonso X., Pedro I or Charles V walked here, who could tell us their heartbreaking stories. Did you know that the Prince's Garden got its name because Queen Isabella of Castile gave birth to her son Juan in a room whose windows overlooked this very garden? Is there a gazebo in the Jardín del Cenador garden where Charles V loved to spend summer evenings?

Water gardens in Game of Thrones and reality

One of the fabulous corners of the water gardens. The entrance with columns, overgrown with lush southern vegetation, is a place where you can be alone with yourself and read an interesting book.

Jaime Lannister was accompanied in his enterprises by the professional mercenary Bronn (played by Jerome Flynn), whose heart was won by one of the Snakes, Tien.

Tyene, one of the three Sand Snakes, is surrounded by House Martell guards. Nymeria, Obara and Tyene are the illegitimate daughters of the Dornish prince Oberyn Martell.

Ser Jaime Lannister, played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, also graced the water gardens with his presence. However, his approach was a little rough.

The team of the series, based on the saga “A Song of Ice and Fire” by George R.R. Martin, traveled almost all over the world to find the ideal filming locations. The Skyscanner team followed their tracks and found out exactly where Game of Thrones was filmed. Find out where King's Landing really is, where the White Walkers come from, and where exactly the Lannisters pay their debts.

Lovrijenac Fortress - Red Castle

In the first season of Game of Thrones, the Red Castle was actually located in Malta, but from the second season the team decided to move the throne room to the capital (Red Harbour/Dubrovnik). Lovrijenac Fortress rises on a 37-meter cliff, a five-minute walk from the old town of Dubrovnik. The fortress is separated from the city by a small bay in which location filming of the Battle of Chernovodnaya took place.

Interesting fact: at the entrance to the fortress there is an ancient inscription in Latin “Non Bene Pro Toto Libertas Venditur Auro” (Freedom is not sold for gold). This is the motto of the Dubrovnik Republic, which clearly contradicts the whims of young Joffrey and the ideology of the Lannisters.

Mincheta Tower - House of the Immortals

The headquarters of the sorcerers of Qarth, the mysterious House of the Immortals, is actually located just a stone's throw from the Iron Throne - in the Minceta Tower in Dubrovnik. The plots of the second season of the series and the second book of the saga diverge slightly. But Daenerys' visions and the fate of the sorcerers from the House of the Immortals are the same in both versions.

Alcazar of Seville - Water Gardens, Dorne

Set against the rugged fortresses of King's Landing (Dubrovnik), the parks and palaces of Dorne (Seville) are a great way to highlight the wealth of House Martell and explain why the Lannisters are so interested in them. In season five, cinematic magic transformed the beautiful Alcazar of Seville into the Water Gardens, the Martells' luxurious country estate. Young Sand Snakes frolic in the gardens and pools of the palace, while adults weave intrigue in the cool marble halls. And several episodes take place in the palace’s underground reservoir, reminiscent of the Istanbul Basilica Cistern.

Roman Bridge, Cordoba - Long Bridge, Volantis

The largest of the Free Cities in Game of Thrones was Cordoba, and its magnificent Roman Bridge served as the Long Bridge for the crew. And although the Spanish river Guadalquivir is several times smaller than the fictional Roina, the guys from HBO have long proven that such trifles do not bother them.

Magheramorn - Castle Black and Hardhome

Magheramorn in County Antrim can hardly even be called a village - just a couple of houses near an abandoned limestone quarry. Life returned to this dreary place in 2014 with the Game of Thrones crew, Jon Snow and the crows. The quarry warehouses served as the backdrop for the Castle Black barracks. And on the shore of the bay in the fifth season of the series, as we learned, a battle will take place that was not in the book - a battle with the Others at Hardhome, one of the abandoned Watch fortresses.

Split - King's Landing

Some scenes of the fifth season were filmed in the luxurious Diocletian's Palace in Split. Skyscanner managed to find out that Cersei Lannister will participate in them, but we cannot say what exactly will happen. However, knowing the sweet nature of the lioness, this is unlikely to be something good.

The suburb of Split, Zrnovnica, has already appeared in Game of Thrones. The sheer cliff of an old stone quarry served as the backdrop for scenes of the conquest of Meereen and the swift battle of the foot Daario with the champion horseman of the city of the Great Lords.

Klis Fortress - Meereen

Before Game of Thrones, the medieval castle of Klis, 15 km from Split, was not spoiled by the attention of tourists - the fortifications are dilapidated, the fortress itself is small, and climbing to it is difficult. Actually, you could appreciate the steepness of the climb yourself - the scene of the crucifixion of the Great Lords of Meereen on crosses along the mountain road was filmed precisely at the foot of Klis. The fortress itself will appear in the frame only in the fifth season - the city market of Meereen will be located on one of its observation platforms.

Sibenik - Braavos

Sibenik will appear in Game of Thrones only in the fifth season. The modest Croatian resort took on the role of Braavos, the richest of the Free Cities. Here are the headquarters of two important organizations in Westeros: the powerful Iron Bank and the secret order of Faceless Assassins. Therefore, when you see in the series one of the surviving members of the Stark clan in the Temple of the Many-Faced, you know that it is happening in Sibenik.

Krka National Park - landscapes of Westeros

The enchanting landscapes of the Krka National Park can be seen in several outdoor scenes in the series. Krka is somewhat reminiscent of the famous Plitvice Lakes, and it is not surprising that the film crew could not pass by the turquoise lagoons, lush greenery and eight picturesque waterfalls.

Atlas Studios, Ouarzazate - Free Cities and Slaver's Bay

The Atlas film studio holds the record for the largest area among all film studios in the world. Its 20 hectares of filming space are located 5 km from the Moroccan Ouarzazate and it is unclear what exactly attracts tourists more: the city itself or its studio. In addition to “Game of Thrones,” “Spy Games,” “Gladiator,” “Babel” and “Prince of Persia” were filmed at Atlas, and Ridley Scott and Brad Pitt are almost regulars here.

The Azure Window - the wedding of Daenerys and Drogo

The “Azure Window” is one of the symbols of Malta - a 50-meter natural rock arch on the island of Gozo. The creators of Game of Thrones chose this location to film the beautiful wedding of Daenerys Targaryen and Khal Drogo in the first season of the series. But they were not pioneers; before them, episodes of many films were filmed here: from “Clash of the Titans” to Andrei Konchalovsky’s “Odyssey.”

Ballintoy Bay - Lordsport

The tiny fishing village of Ballintoy is one of the most picturesque places on the County Antrim coast. In the series, the village port and bay of Ballintoy became Lordsport on Pyke, one of the Iron Islands. Here, in the second season, Theon Greyjoy goes ashore, arriving to negotiate with his father, and from here he sails a few episodes later.

Verdala Palace - Pentos, home of Illyrio Mopatis

At the very beginning of the first season of Game of Thrones, young Daenerys and her brother Viserys are visiting Illyrio Mopatis (it is he who will introduce the Targaryens to Khal Drogo). The filming of these scenes took place at the summer residence of the President of Malta - in the beautiful gardens of the Verdala Palace. The palace is closed to tourists, but you can walk around the garden and try to imagine that Daenerys is resting somewhere in a gazebo behind the trees.

St. Florentina's Castle - Rogov Hill

The elegant castle of St. Florentine in “Game of Thrones” played the role of the stronghold of the Tarly house. According to rumors from the set, an epic battle will take place here in the sixth season of Game of Thrones. And although Horn Hill didn't get much action in George R.R. Martin's book, this isn't the first time the show's plot has diverged from it. So, perhaps the rumors have some basis, and serious passions will flare up at Fat Sam’s house. Be that as it may, the Castle of St. Florentina is a cozy and amazingly beautiful place, and it’s definitely worth coming here if you find yourself in Barcelona or on the Costa Brava.

Ward Castle - Winterfell

The grounds of the luxurious Ward Castle on the shores of Strangford Lough served as the filming location for the courtyard of Winterfell Castle. Here, among other things, they filmed the scene of the arrival of Robert Baratheon and his retinue at the Stark family estate.

Cushendun Cave - Stormlands

This beautiful, eerie cave in the northeast of Ireland can be seen in the second season of Game of Thrones. By order of Stannis, Davos Seaworth brings Lady Melisandre here. Here he realizes what kind of monsters the red priestess is capable of giving birth to, and how these creatures can influence the course of the war.

Dark Hedges - King's Road

Dark Hedges is perhaps the most beautiful avenue of beech trees in the world. The trees were planted in the 18th century to impress visitors to Grayshill Castle. The idea turned out to be so successful that it outlived its creators and still amazes tourists - Dark Hedges is considered one of the most frequently photographed places in Northern Ireland.

In Game of Thrones, this scenic road became the King's Road - the main transport artery of Westeros, running from Storm's End in the south to the Wall itself in the north. You can see her in the first and second seasons of the series, for example, in the episode when Arya, disguised as a boy, goes to join the Night's Watch, accompanied by Yoren, Gendry and Jaqen H'ghar.

Dimmuborger - Wildling Camp

A stone's throw from the Grjötagya grotto, on the shores of Lake Mivan, are the Dimmuborger lava fields. The landscapes here are gloomy and lifeless, and it is not surprising that in Icelandic folklore Dimmuborger is considered both a diabolical place and the home of bloodthirsty trolls. However, the creators of “Game of Thrones” also populated these harsh rocks with not the most friendly characters—in the series, Mance Rayder, the king of the Wildlings, set up his camp here.

Doune Castle - Winterfell

Doune Castle is a medieval fortress of the Stuart dynasty. It is located near Stirling and the sites of the famous battles for Scottish independence with the participation of William Wallace (“Braveheart”). Long before it was cast as Winterfell in Game of Thrones, the castle was the star of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

The fate of the fortress is in many ways similar to the fate of Winterfell - after the Stuart family lost its influence, the castle fell into a deplorable state. But what can you do, Valar Morghulis.

Essaouira - Astapor

In Game of Thrones, Astapor is located south of Yunkai, but in reality Essaouira lies west of Ait Benhaddou, on the Atlantic coast. It was here, on the walls of the city fortress, that Daenerys negotiated the purchase of the Unsullied army.

It's ironic that in the real world, in the 1960s, Jimi Hendrix and Cat Stevens turned a fictional slave trading town into a center of pilgrimage for hippies around the world. The relaxed atmosphere has remained in Essaouira to this day, and tourists enjoy visiting this small fishing town.

Fort Manoel - Great Sept of Baelor

This medieval fortress of the Knights of Malta guards the entrance to Marsamxett Harbour, west of Valletta. In the world of Westeros, the fort became the Great Sept of Baelor - the main temple of King's Landing and the residence of the Great Septon.

Fort Manoel is shown several times in Game of Thrones. On the steps of the Great Sept, among other things, the climactic scene of the first season of the series was filmed (the same one with the participation of Sean Bean).

Fort Sant'Angelo - catacombs of the Red Castle

No one knows exactly when the “Sea Castle,” as this majestic fortress in the Maltese city of Birgu was once called, was built. But it is known that in the Middle Ages, Fort Sant'Angelo already served as the residence of the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller Order.

In the first season of Game of Thrones, the interior of the fort can be seen in the episode when Arya chases a cat through the Red Keep and ends up in dungeons with dragon skulls.

Fort Ricasoli - Red Castle

Fort Ricasoli was built in Malta by the Knights of the Hospitaller Order back in the 17th century. Since then, the fortress has withstood many sieges and battles, including during the Second World War. With each attack, the fortifications deteriorated, and to this day the fort has survived in a deplorable state, so visitors are not allowed inside. But exceptions are made for film crews, and Ricasoli has already become the star of such films as Troy and Gladiator. And in the first season of Game of Thrones, the fort played the role of the Red Keep in King's Landing.

Peniscola - Meereen

From a bird's eye view, the charming Spanish village of Peniscola resembles the main postcard view of Montenegro - Sveti Stefan. A narrow sand spit leads to an island where a majestic castle from the time of the Templars was established. The majestic medieval fortress seems to grow straight from the seabed, like a volcanic island. In Game of Thrones, Peniscola will be heavily seasoned with special effects and served under the guise of Meereen and Dorne.

Grjötagya - "You Know Nothing, Jon Snow"

We are unlikely to see this picturesque grotto again in the new season of Game of Thrones, but it is definitely worth a visit on a real trip to Iceland. The volcanic cave with the hair-raising name Grjótagjá is located in the north-east of Iceland next to Lake Mivan. There is almost always snow and ice outside, but the water temperature in the pool sometimes reaches +50°. Tourists are freely allowed into Grjötagja, and this is a great opportunity to add romance to a trip to Iceland, and repeat the feat of John and Ygritte with your loved one.

Larrybane - Stormlands

Larrybane is one of the most dramatic stretches of coastline in Northern Ireland. Sheer cliffs rising straight from the sea leave no one indifferent. Even the producers of Game of Thrones, who staged another geographical anomaly of Westeros here: in real life, you can walk from the Iron Islands (Ballintoy village) to the Stormlands (Larribane) in half an hour.

Lokrum - Quart

The role of Qarth, an oasis city in the middle of the desert, was played by the picturesque island of Lokrum in the middle of the Adriatic Sea. The lush vegetation of the parks and gardens where Daenerys walked with Xaro is actually the Mediterranean flora of the local botanical garden. And if in the “Game of Thrones” travelers who were not allowed outside the gates of Qarth remained forever in the “Garden of Bones”, then in reality a tourist who did not get to the island will continue to have fun a kilometer away, in Dubrovnik.

Ait Benhaddou - Yunkai and Pentos

You can repeat Daenerys Targaryen's journey through the Free Cities and Slaver's Bay in Morocco. The Moroccan ksar (fortified city) of Ait Ben Haddou rises on a hill in the middle of the hot desert, 100 km from Marrakech. In ancient times, trade caravans visited the fortress, but now it is chosen by tourists and filmmakers.

This is not the first time that this Moroccan fortress has hosted film crews. “Jesus of Nazareth”, “The Pearl of the Nile”, “The Mummy”, “Gladiator”, “Alexander” - this is just the beginning of the list of films that have been filmed here since the 1960s.

In Game of Thrones, Ait Benhaddou served as the setting for two cities at once: Yunkai, thriving on the slave trade, and free Pentos.

Mdina Gate - Gate to King's Landing

Mdina, the ancient capital of Malta, is over 4,000 years old. From the kaleidoscope of kingdoms and empires, the city has preserved a scattering of beautiful medieval buildings and cathedrals, sheltered by fortress walls. One of the main attractions of the city is the impressive gate within these very walls, which the creators of Game of Thrones turned into the gates of the capital of Westeros.

Murlough Bay - Iron Islands

In clear weather, the islands of Scotland can be clearly seen from the shores of Murlough Bay in north-east Ireland. The film crew of the series chose these regions for location filming of the Iron Islands. Almost all of Theon Greyjoy's scenes on Pyke were filmed here.

Mussenden Temple and Downhill Beach - Dragonstone

Few people expect beautiful sandy beaches from Northern Ireland. But they exist, and Downhill is one of them. This 11-kilometer beach is famous primarily for the Mussenden Temple - a neat round building standing alone on a high cliff on the Atlantic coast.

The beach and temple were captured during the filming of location scenes on Dragon Stone. Remember how Melisandre burned the old gods on the beach? So, this is the same place.

Dubrovnik - King's Landing

With the release of Game of Thrones, Dubrovnik transformed from the tourist capital of Croatia into the real capital of Westeros. It's no surprise that the producers chose this location for location filming of King's Landing: the old town of Dubrovnik is a beautifully preserved castle with a massive fortress wall that runs straight into the sea. Fortunately for the townspeople and the local tourism department, the wildfire from the third season of the series is just special effects.

Osuna Bullring - Meereen Arena

The climactic scene of the ninth episode of the fifth season was filmed in the bullring in Osuna. It wasn’t bulls at all that took part in that bullfight, but that only made it more spectacular. Series producer D.B. Weiss once admitted that it took 17 days to film the scene, even without post-production and special effects. Since the airing of Season 5 of the series, tourists and Game of Thrones fans have been flocking to Osuna. The owners of the local restaurant Casa Curro reacted to the situation instantly and changed the names of the dishes on the menu to “Khalisi”, “Melisandra” and “Jon Snow”.

San Anton Palace - Red Castle

Once again, the Game of Thrones team disturbed the President of Malta. This time he had to give up his official residence - the San Anton Palace in Attard. You can see him in several episodes of the first season, for example, in the scene of the Starks’ arrival in King’s Landing or in the episode when Varys and Littlefinger assure Eddard Stark that the Golden Cloaks are entirely subordinate to him. But you won’t be able to look at the presidential chambers - the palace was only filmed from the outside.

Almeria Fortress - Dorne

In the sixth season of the series, another landmark of southern Spain will debut - the alcazaba in Almeria. The fortress has already exceeded a thousand years, and during this time it has changed hands dozens of times. In 2016, it ended up in the possession of the Martell dynasty - the sovereign masters of Dorne.

Bardenas Reales - Dothraki Sea

The stunning desert landscapes of Bardenas Reales Natural Park in northern Spain are the perfect setting for Game of Thrones. In the sixth season of the series, they can be admired under the guise of the Dothraki Sea, where Daenerys will meet with a hostile khalasar.

Zafra Castle - Tower of Joy

In the real world, the tower of the Zafra fortress pierces the skies of the province of Guadalajara, or “Spanish Siberia,” as the place is nicknamed for its harsh winters. In the A Song of Ice and Fire universe, the Tower of Joy rises in the middle of the Red Mountains on the border of the Expanse and Dorne. According to the plot of the book, Ned Stark destroyed the Tower of Joy before Robert Baratheon's coronation. Therefore, in the series, we will most likely see a flashback of one of the characters, and Safra Castle will be shown in his memories.

Ston - King's Landing

The village of Ston in southern Croatia became the capital of the Seven Kingdoms in the fifth season of Game of Thrones. Its fortress wall and tiled roofs, richly flavored with special effects, became part of King's Landing. It is curious that the real wall in Ston can easily compete with the fictional Wall from the saga of George R.R. Martin. In the Middle Ages, this 5.5 km long rampart with 40 towers and 5 fortresses protected the Dubrovnik Republic from the attacks of the savages of that time - the Ottomans.

Thingvellir National Park - Riverlands

Thingvellir National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has special significance for every Icelander. The Althing people's meeting gathered here for a thousand years, here in the year 1000 Icelanders adopted Christianity and here in 1944 they declared the country's independence.

Thingvellir is considered one of the main attractions of the country (part of the Golden Circle of Iceland), but it first appeared in Game of Thrones only in the fourth season. And looking at the villages of the Riverlands, through which Clegane the Hound and his companion from the Stark clan travel, you can learn what a hot Icelandic summer looks like.

Tollymore Forest Park - Forests of the North

The 630-hectare woodland of Tollymore Park, at the foot of the Mourne Ranges, is a great place for walks or even hikes in Northern Ireland. The mountain river, caves, grottoes and beautiful sea views attracted the film crew of the series here. Tollymore can be seen several times in Game of Thrones, most notably in the first episode when the Starks find the direwolf pups.

Trsteno Arboretum - King's Landing

If you want to stroll in the gardens of King's Landing, head to the village of Trsteno, 10 km from Dubrovnik. The aqueduct and gazebos, fountains with statues and vine-covered galleries, in the shadow of which Lord Varys and Tyrion intrigued, are located in the local arboretum.

Vatnajökull - The Land Beyond the Wall

The deserted snowy wastes of Iceland's largest glacier served as the backdrop for the Lands Beyond the Wall. The Vatnajökull ice cap reliably shelters several dormant volcanoes, and infrastructure is actively developing in the national park, hotels and restaurants are being built for tourists. And no one seems to be worried that the Others could arrive at any moment.

Hoefdabrekka, Vik and Myrdalur - Fangs of Frost

Höfdabrekka is a popular tourist “resort” in the south of Iceland, with black sand beaches and water temperatures that are not suitable for swimming. As befits any self-respecting Icelandic city, Vik boasts a glacier with an unpronounceable name (Myrdalsjökull) and an active volcano (Katla). And, as in other places in Iceland, the Game of Thrones crew had to work here for only a few hours a day due to the short daylight hours.

Alcazar of Seville water gardens of Dorna. Through the water gardens of Dorna or Seville's Alcazar. Grjötagya - "You Know Nothing, Jon Snow"

Gardens with history

Water gardens in Game of Thrones and reality

Westeros is Croatia

King's Landing is Dubrovnik

God titek and wine

Daenerys's domain in Split

Iceland - the land of ice and fire

Most castles are from Northern Ireland

Spain: Season Five and Beyond

Where else was Game of Thrones filmed?

Game of Thrones Museum

Gardens with history

Water gardens in Game of Thrones and reality

Lovrijenac Fortress - Red Castle

Mincheta Tower - House of the Immortals

Alcazar of Seville - Water Gardens, Dorne

Roman Bridge, Cordoba - Long Bridge, Volantis

Magheramorn - Castle Black and Hardhome

Split - King's Landing

Klis Fortress - Meereen

Sibenik - Braavos

Krka National Park - landscapes of Westeros

Atlas Studios, Ouarzazate - Free Cities and Slaver's Bay

The Azure Window - the wedding of Daenerys and Drogo

Ballintoy Bay - Lordsport

Verdala Palace - Pentos, home of Illyrio Mopatis

St. Florentina's Castle - Rogov Hill

Ward Castle - Winterfell

Cushendun Cave - Stormlands

Dark Hedges - King's Road

Dimmuborger - Wildling Camp

Doune Castle - Winterfell

Essaouira - Astapor

Fort Manoel - Great Sept of Baelor

Fort Sant'Angelo - catacombs of the Red Castle

Fort Ricasoli - Red Castle

Peniscola - Meereen

Grjötagya - "You Know Nothing, Jon Snow"

Larrybane - Stormlands

Lokrum - Quart

Ait Benhaddou - Yunkai and Pentos

Mdina Gate - Gate to King's Landing

Murlough Bay - Iron Islands

Mussenden Temple and Downhill Beach - Dragonstone

Dubrovnik - King's Landing

Osuna Bullring - Meereen Arena

San Anton Palace - Red Castle

Almeria Fortress - Dorne

Bardenas Reales - Dothraki Sea

Zafra Castle - Tower of Joy

Ston - King's Landing

Thingvellir National Park - Riverlands

Tollymore Forest Park - Forests of the North

Trsteno Arboretum - King's Landing

Vatnajökull - The Land Beyond the Wall

Hoefdabrekka, Vik and Myrdalur - Fangs of Frost

Latest

You need to know this