Medieval fantasy is a great genre that can contain in a single story from magic and political intrigue, through romance to heroism and touches of science fiction. There are wonderful authors and although there are times when its popularity declines, there are others where it is always at the forefront of book sales and now also movies or novels or comics on the web. Does it sound familiar to you Game of Thrones?
Of course, the series of endless books has had its television correlate with the same success that the literary and its actors and the settings in which it has been filmed have become famous. In Europe there are several of these natural settings from the TV series, so let's talk about them in this article. Let's have fun!
Game of Thrones in Ireland
The Game of Thrones map in Ireland is numerous because this island has the most natural locations in the series. In Northern Ireland we came across ten fantastic locations so take note:
- Tollymore Forest: This place is in County Down and was established as a state park in 1955. It appears in the first season of the series, it is the territories that are seen around Winterfell where the wolves live that are the symbol of House Stark.
- Ballyntoy Harbor: It is part of the county Antrim coastline and the site is at the end of a narrow and difficult road down Knocksaughey Hill. He appears in season two of the series, when Theon Greyjoy returns to Lordpost Haborbour.
- Portstewart Strand: It is a state protected area that sits on the north coast and has some of the most beautiful beaches in the country with views of Inishowen and Mussenden Temple on fantastic cliffs. It depicts the Dorne coast in season five of the series, when Jamie Lannister must return his sister's daughter, Myrcella, to King's Landing.
- Binevenagh - Limavady: It is a high, flat terrain, ending in cliffs that stretch for miles across the Magilligan Peninsula with the villages of Downhill, Bellarena, Castlerock and Benone. It is the setting where Daenerys Targaryen is rescued by her dragon, Drogon, in season five.
- Dark Hedges - StranocumThis landscape is undoubtedly one of the most popular Irish postcards today. The path is fantastic, the avenue of beech trees that was planted by the Stuart family in the 2th century to mark the entrance to their residence is still worth seeing. Appears in the series in season XNUMX, it is the Kingsroad.
- Downhill beach: It is a beautiful beach in County Londonderry, a beach well to the north of Northern Ireland that is seven miles long and is ideal for walking and playing sports. Above is the Mussden Temple and in the TV series it appears in season two when Stannis Baratheon rejects the Seven Gods of Westeros and allows Melisandre to burn their effigies as an offering to the God of Light.
- Castle Ward: This castle is in County Down and has been in the Ward family since the XNUMXth century. The mansion, however, is from the XNUMXth century, and stands on a beautiful hill overlooking the lake that is surrounded by a wide and green territory with forests and gardens. It is the home of House Stark, Winterfell.
- Cushendun Caves: They are in County Antrim, near the village of Cushendun, on a beach at the mouth of the Dun River. The caves can be reached on foot from the village itself and in the series they appear in season 2, it is the place where Melisandre gives birth to that sinister creature.
- Pollnagollum Cave, Marble Arch Caves: They are in County Fermanagh and the former is part of the Belmore Forest. Everything is inside the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark. A waterfall feeds the cave and there is a tourist trail to appreciate everything. The cave appears in season three as it is the site where Beric Dondarrion hides.
- Inch Abbey: This old church is in County Down and the ruins belonged to an abbey of the Cistercian order that was founded in 1180, on the banks of the Quoile River. In Game of Thrones it is the place that Robb Stark chooses to set up his camp.
Game of Thrones in Spain
Spain appears as another of the European countries with the most natural scenes for filming this popular HBO series. The production decided to reorient its gaze on the fifth season and put it on the Iberian Peninsula. They were very successful so in the following seasons they returned.
Cordoba locations:
- Roman bridge: the Roman bridge of Córdoba, partly animated in 3D, is the bridge that in season five belongs to the city of Volantis and is the one that Tyrion and Varys cross as they enter it. It is the Long Bridge, bridge and market at the same time. The 3D animation thing was interesting because the scenes were filmed in the studio and the bakground and the bridge were added with the computer.
- Almodovar del Río Castle: in season seven Córdoba returns to the scene when the Castillo Almodovar del Río, just 30 kilometers from the city, is used to become the residence of Casa Tyrell.
- Locations in Seville
- Real Alcazar of Seville: it becomes the residence of House Martell and also in season five we see its beautiful gardens when Trsytane Tyrell and Myrcella Baratheon play.
- Baths of Maria de Padilla: It is the place where the Sand Serpents organize their revenge on their father Oberyn.
- Ambassador's Room: in episode nine of this season it is the room where Prince Doran receives Jaime. It is a lavish room.
- You know these scenarios of the Real Alcázar during the tourist visit and you get there very easily: take the T1 tram to Puerta de Jerez or buses 05, A3, A4 and A8 going down Menéndez Pelayo.
Locations in Girona
- Girona streets: they were used a lot throughout season six and are for example, the streets through which Anya flees from Waif or when I walk with Jaqen H'ghar City of Girona: it becomes in season six in Bravoos and in the scene end of King's Landing.
- Cathedral from Girona: It is the Great Sept of Baelor that flies through the air Cersei Lannister.
- Plate of the Jurats: this square appears in season five when Anya goes to see a street theater.
- Locations in Cáceres
- Trujillo Castle: it's Casterly Rock in season seven.
- Old town: becomes King's Landing after Dubrovnik was so for many seasons. The same cobbled streets, the same stone walls, the same medieval scenery. Cáceres generally appears as a new location in season seven.
Locations in Almería:
- Alcazaba of Almería: this fabulous fortification shares scenes with the Real Alcázar of Seville as the residence of Casa Martell.
- Cabo de Gata Park and Torre de Mesa Roldan: they were chosen to film some scenes of Meeren, for example in episode 9 of season six when Daenerys punishes the Masters.
- Landscapes of Almería: the desert landscapes of Almería have been ideal to reproduce the land of Dothraki, wild, arid.
Locations in Castellon, Peniscola
- In the province of Castellon is Peniscola that in the series served as Meereen for its exterior settings throughout season six.
- Artillery Park: It is the place where Tyrion, Gray Worm and Missandei discuss about the Masters of Astapor and Yunkai.
- Port Fosc: is the place where the Red Priest preaches to the public in High Valyrian.
- Main Street: It is the street where Varys and Tyrion walk and discuss strategies to follow.
Locations in the Basque Country
In season seven there are parks in this area of Spain. For example, gaztelugatxe It is a small peninsula in Bermeo that in that season represents the volcanic island of Dragonstone where Daenerys is born.
In turn, the bridge that connects the island with the mainland appears repeatedly in that season. The Itzurun beach, in Zumaia, it also becomes the Dragonstone at other times.
Finally we can not leave out of the list Zafra Castle, from the twelfth century, in Campillo de Duenas in Guadalajara. It is the Tower of Joy. The castle is 149 kilometers from Zaragoza. Neither does the castle of Santa Florentina, in Canet de Mar, in Catalonia. In the series it is the ancestral home of Samwell Tarly. The castle is between Barcelona and Girona, less than an hour's drive from both cities.
Obviously, the HBO series shot in many other countries in Europe but that would encompass a much longer article.