Setjetting: Game of Thrones Filming Locations

WARNING:  May contain spoilers.

Glen and I are among the millions of avid fans of HBO’s hit series Game of Thrones who are thrilled that much anticipated fifth season is finally here (updated: Season 5 came and went, with an epic cliffhanger).   The epic television adaption of A Song of Ice and Fire, George R. R. Martin’s series of fantasy novels has gloriously brought to life the mythical continents of Westeros and Essos. occasionally altered some help of CGI wizardry.   Various stunning real-life locations have been used to tell the tale of the great and noble houses.

Here’s a video from Season 5 that shows the complex work that goes behind transforming a filming location into a Game of Thrones setting.

Game of Thrones, Season 5 – VFX making of reel from Mackevision on Vimeo.

In the last couple of years, we’ve visited some of these filming locations by either intentionally seeking them out (Croatia and Morocco) or happen to have stumbled upon them before we were fans of the show (Iceland) or before we knew they were going to be used in the series (Spain).

• ICELAND

Standing in as the land beyond The Wall (as well as other places in Westeros), Iceland is the quintessential Land of Fire and Ice and is the perfect fit for Martin’s novels.   Snow and ice cover the volcanic mountains which have produced spectacular fiery eruptions.

Vatnajokull

Svinafellsjokull  is an outlet glacier of Vatnajokull, the largest glacier in Europe.  Scenes from Beyond the Wall with Jon Snow, Ygritte and the Night’s Watch were filmed here in seasons two and three.

Þingvellir National Park

A UNESCO World Heritage Site,Þingvellir/Thingvellir National Park is in Southern Iceland where the oldest parliament, Alþing, was established around 930 and continued to convene there until 1798.   Geologically, is a part of a fissure zone running through Iceland, situated on the tectonic plate boundaries of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.  It is also the location of Arya’s and Sandor Clegane’s journey from village to village in mid-Westeros in Season 4.  Scenes from Season 5 were shot here as well, including parts of the journey that Brienne of Tarth and the ever loyal squire Podrick took to save Sansa.

 

 

• MOROCCO

In contrast to the frigid scenery of Iceland, Morocco exudes a combination of the arid terrain of the Western Sahara, the rugged fertile lands of the Atlas mountain chain and the seaside serenity of the Atlantic Coast on its eastern edge.

Ouarzazate

The City of Ouarzazate has a rich Hollywood pedigree, with several iconic movies filmed in this area and in the film studios including Lawrence of Arabia, The Mummy and Gladiator .  Game of Thrones joins this illustrious list.  A UNESCO World Heritage site and a model traditional Berber architecture, Ksar of Aït-Benhaddou is turned into Yunkai, the smallest of the three cities in Slaver’s Bay.

Essaouira

The oceanside city of Essaouira is known for its fortified wall as well as for being a hippy commune in the 1960s to the likes of Jimi Hendrix.  In the show, it is transformed into Slavers Bay, an area in the continent of Essos, particularly the slave-city of Astapor.

• CROATIA

Once a part of the former Yugoslavia, Croatia has emerged from the tragic war of the 1990s to be one of the most popular destinations in the Mediterranean.  The Roman and Byzantine empires, the Hapsburg dynasty, Communism and the more recent devastating war for independence have all left their mark on this beautiful country.

Dubrovnik

Named by CNN Go as one of the most preserved medieval walled cities, Dubrovnik is typically overrun by tourists who come by land, air and sea (by way of cruise liners).  The walls were first built just before the 7th century to protect its citizens of this once maritime city-state.  Today, it is well known to fans of the series as King’s Landing, capital of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros and home to the highly-contested Iron Throne.

We joined a popular Game of Thrones-themed tour of the city, where Anna, our knowledgeable guide pointed out sites used in the show.  She is a big fan of the show and has worked as a background actor on the series. It was a wonderful treat to get the inside stories and anecdotes from a local who’s been around the filming up close.

 

 

 

We were able to sit with some extras in their holding area as they waited to film a scene.  Many of them travelled from all around Croatia and Europe to be part of the show.

All around the city, we bumped into sets and props that transformed Dubrovnik into King’s Landing.  As Season 5 unfolded, it’s been fun to see what scenes took place in the spots we saw.

After watching the finale, I finally understood what I came across at the Ploce Gate.  No wonder they paid attention to detail there: it was where a critical scene was to take place.

We didn’t see any cast members during our time in King’s Landing but some travelers we met said that they saw the beautiful Lena Headey, who plays Cersei Lannister, sunning herself by the pool at their hotel.

Split

When Emperor Diocletian built his grand Roman Palace in Split, now Croatia’s second largest city, he had no clue it would be used as a film set for a fictional realm.  Look out for Diocletian’s digs in Season 5.

 

 

SPAIN

Spain undoubtedly has some of the most beautiful cities in the world, with magnificent architecture and sumptuous gardens.

Seville

One of the most awaited plot lines in Season 5 is the unfolding of the story of House Martell.  The grandiose Alcazar of Seville lends some of its rich surroundings to give life to Dorne and the castle of Sunspear.

 

 

 

Season 5 ended with a death (?) of a well loved character. Without a doubt, Season 6 will be highly anticipated.  By the time the first episode of the next season starts, I hope to have ventured to the last two countries where the show: Malta and Northern Ireland.

To Be Continued.

 

Have you visited any filming location of your favorite movie or TV show? Tell us about it!