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Game of Thrones: the 10 most visited filming locations in the world

As one of the first filming locations selected by the production of Game of ThronesCastle Ward in Northern Ireland was used as a base to build Winterfell, the Stark family stronghold. The two towers as well as the old stables were dressed with sets but also decorated with CGI elements for the needs of the multiple scenes taking place in the castle since the first episode. This is where the Starks receive King Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy) and his family at the beginning of the series. Winterfell also features elements of Doune Castle in Scotland, where Monty Python once filmed their feature film based on the legend of King Arthur, Holy Grail!.

Now entirely devoted to maintaining the cult of Game of ThronesCastle Ward offers guided tours. The castle itself is located near other sites used in the show, such as the lake where the Twins’ castle was digitally added or one of Robb Stark’s (Richard Madden) base camps as he goes to war against the Lannisters. It is possible to buy art objects and products derived from the series but also to participate in themed activities such as archery.

Dragonstone, the Targaryen family castle occupied by Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) at the beginning of the series, has asked the production of Game of Thrones a particular job. Indeed, the latter has relocated its shooting on the peninsula of Gaztelugatxe, on which sits a small monastery that can be reached by winding steps. Steps appearing in the center of the shooting if not that in the series, these go up towards the land and not towards the island as in reality. The castle, on the other hand, was built from scratch in post-production.

In the final seasons, as Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) prepares her offensive against King’s Landing, Dragonstone is revealed a little more. Some scenes take place on its beach. To orchestrate these sequences, the directors shot on the beach of Itzurun. Characterized by its rocky projections resembling dragon spines, this great expanse of sand also contains caves where, in the series, Jon Snow (Kit Harington) discovers a deposit of verredragon, the mineral capable of killing white walkers. The beach and the Gaztelugatxe peninsula have made a comeback in House of the Dragonthe spin-off series of Game of Thrones. However, this time, the site was entirely designed in computer graphics.

Several key scenes take place in these caves located near the small village of Cushendun. It is thus in the main cave, easily accessible on foot, that Melisandre (Carive van Houten), the witch of Asshai in the service of Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane), gives birth to a demon in order to thwart the plans of the competitors of the one she considers to be the legitimate king of Westeros. Much later, as King’s Landing is repeatedly assaulted by Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) and her dragon, the caves are used to film the battle between Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and Euron Greyjoy (Pilou Asbaek).

Spectacular, the caves of Cushendun can be visited all year round. The entrance to the site is free and an explanatory panel resituates the place in the history of Game of Thronesas is the case for all the locations in Northern Ireland where the series is filmed.

Among the cities used in the filming of Game of ThronesGirona is one of the most sought-after cities. Indeed, the historic city has been mined to create both King’s Landing, the capital of the Seven Crowns, and Braavos, the faraway city where Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) is training to become a Shifeless.

St. Mary’s Cathedral in Girona appears when King Tommen (Dean-Charles Chapman) announces in front of Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and Olenna Tyrell (Diana Rigg) that he embraces the Faith but also takes Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer) as his wife. It is precisely on the church square, at the level of the steps, that this scene was shot. Views of Dubrovnik were simply added in post-production to create the illusion that the action took place near the sea.

Girona was also widely used to create the city of Braavos. The canal steps, the stone bridge, the theater where Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) attends a satire of her father’s (Sean Bean) execution, the baths or the picturesque alleys have been fashioned from locations in old Girona. The Arab baths were requisitioned for the production, as well as the steps of the Sant Domènec convent, where the market was placed.

But it is also in Girona, in the monastery of St. Pere de Galligants that the filmmakers shot the arrival of Samwell Tarly (John Bradley-West) at the citadel where he will begin his training as a mestre.

The Dornians are always talking about the merits of their water gardens. Magnificent places where you can play in Game of Thrones some decisive plots. Already used in the context of film shoots such as Lawrence of Arabia, 1492 : Christopher Columbus and Night and Day The Alcazar of Seville immediately appealed to the producers of Game of Thrones. Here, no significant changes were necessary to film the scenes that were supposed to take place in Dorne.

Later, however, the production preferred to locate the Water Gardens in the Alcazaba of Almeria, where once was shot Conan the Barbarianby John Milius.