Where was The Witcher filmed? Guide to ALL the Locations - The Castle & the House
Posted by Ra Moon
Based on the international bestselling book series by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher was filmed on location all across Europe, including Italy, Hungary, Austria, Spain, Poland, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom.
The series' fantasy world, now back for the third season, combines epic tales, magic, and all kinds of monsters.
The series' fantasy world, now back for the third season, combines epic tales, magic, and all kinds of monsters.
The solitary monster-hunter Geralt of Rivia, The Witcher, lives in a universe full of legendary locations like Cintra, Aretuza, Redania, or Nilfgaard.
Congratulations. You’ve made it to the ultimate guide to The Witcher filming locations, sorted in order of appearance.
We've done our best to keep spoilers at bay. You'll find the new season 3 updates below in the report. You can also click here to go directly to season two.
The Season 1 Locations
The town of Blaviken in the Continent is the first location of the series, after the kikimora's scene in the forest with the giant spider beast filmed in the studios.
Geralt of Rivia was nicknamed the Butcher of Blaviken after the events that happened in the first episode "The End's Beginning", featuring an amazing fight scene.
Most of Blaviken was also shot at Mafilm Studios near Budapest, on a large set that included the wizard Stregobor's exterior household.
The inner courtyard of wizard Stregobor's house is the Jaki Chapel (Jáki kápolna) cloister, situated opposite Vajdahunyad Castle in Budapest.
Pictured below, an image of how this cloister actually looks in real life.
In the first season, the magnificent hall in Cintra set was built at Origo Studios, located near Budapest.
For the second season, the set was recreated at Arborfield Film Studios, on the outskirts of London.
Fort Monostor (Monostori Erod) is a 19th-century fortress located in the city of Komárom, at the Hungarian-Slovakian border.
Here is where some of the exterior scenes taking place in Cintra's ramparts and fortifications were filmed.
The production also shot scenes in the surrounding forests. The Battle of Marnadal, where the Cintran army fought against the legions of Nilfgaard, was filmed in the hills of Csákberény, a village in Hungary west of Budapest.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
The Aretuza Magical Academy
The school of magic of the Brotherhood of Sorcerers Aretuza is The Witcher's Hogwarts. Tor Lara, aka the Tower of the Gull, is the most potent place on the continent.
The Tower of the Gull (or Tor Lara) location was created by casting digital magic over the Roque de Santo Domingo in Garafía, a rocky islet facing the northwestern coast of the island of La Palma. This is the same island of the 2021 volcanic eruption in the Canary Islands, Spain.
The scenes from episode two with Geralt and the bard Jaskier (Joey Batey) traveling through some arid landscapes, were filmed in the Barranco de Fataga on Gran Canaria island.
Image courtesy of Netflix, Frank Vincentz, and Google Maps
The village where Yennefer comes from, appearing at the beginning of the second episode "Four Marks", was shot in the Szentendre Skanzen Village Museum.
This Hungarian open-air museum, situated only 20 miles north of Budapest, features a traditional architecture village and the beautiful church belfry pictured, a design characteristic of the Upper Tisza and Maramureș County regions in the Carpathian Basin.
The scenes with Ciri in a town with a windmill from episode seven were also filmed here.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
The Witcher Castle
The exteriors of the abandoned castle Vizima in the icy kingdom of Temeria from episode 3 "Betrayer Moon", were recorded at Kreuzenstein Castle (Burg Kreuzenstein) in Leobendorf, Austria.
Located around 20 miles north of Vienna near the Danube river, it was rebuilt in the 19th century on the remains of an early medieval fortress.
The interior of Wyzima, where the Striga fight takes place, was filmed at Origo Studios in Budapest.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Uwe Brodrecht - Map
In the third episode, Yennefer debuts her new body at the graduation ball that takes place at Aretuza's hall.These scenes were filmed at the Kiscelli Museum in Óbuda, hosted in an old 18th-century monastery. This historical place has been reconverted into the Municipal Picture Gallery of Budapest.
Also, the conclave of the Northern Mage's room in the seventh episode (pictured) was filmed here.
The Brokilon Forest, home of the dryads, appears first in the fourth episode, "Of Banquets, Bastards, and Burials".
The forest was filmed in the dense jungles of La Palma island. The production shot at La Zarza (Garafia), Los Tilos Waterfall (Los Sauces), and the Cubo de la Galga fern forest (Llano Molino).
In real life, these lush rainforests look as magical as in The Witcher. The vision scene of Ciri in the desert was shot on Gran Canaria island, in the Natural Dune Reserve of Maspalomas.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Maps: La Zarza / Los Tilos / Cubo de la Galga / Maspalomas Beach
The section of the episode where Yennefer is protecting Queen Kalis of Lyria, opening multiple portals, was filmed in several locations on Gran Canaria island.
The desert scene was also shot at Maspalomas beach (map linked in the caption of the previous image).
The fight at the top of a mountain range, featuring huge rocks, is the Canarian landmark Roque Nublo.
The field with yellow flowers is near the village of Tejeda. Yennefer ends up on the black sand Guayedra beach in Agaete, also used on the landing of episode 8.
The town with red walls is a set in Mafilm Studios.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Maps: Roque Nublo / Guayedra Beach
The Witcher house
The house in Rinde where Yennefer attempts to become the vessel for the Djinn in the fifth episode, "Bottled Appetites", is the Tata Castle located near Lake Oreg.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
Most of episode 6 "Rare Species" was recorded on La Palma island (Canary islands).
There are several scenes filmed in the Llano de las Brujas (The Plain of Witches), and at the Cumbrecita viewpoint.
The expedition camp was shot in the volcanic scenery on top of Roque de Los Muchachos. However, the dragon's lair was filmed back in Hungary in the Szelim cave near Tatabánya.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Maps: La Palma / Szelim Cave
In episode seven, "Before a Fall", Yennefer stops by a Nilfgaard archaeological dig in a red-yellow hills landscape.
This is the Geological Park of Bauxite Mining in Gánt, Hungary.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
The showrunners really wanted to shoot in Poland, the country of writer Andrzej Sapkowski.
They chose the ruins of the castle in Ogrodzieniec (about 60 km northwest of Krakow), to film the Battle of Sodden for the last episode of The Witcher season 1 "Much More".
Image courtesy of Netflix and Philip Milne - Map
There are several scenes in the ramparts of the citadel filmed at Az Egri vár másolata, a fake castle in Pilis (Hungary).This castle was built in the 1960s to shoot an epic Hungarian movie called Egri Csillagok.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Szenti Tamás - Map
Season 2
Unfortunately, you won't be able to visit Kaer Morhen, the witchers' hidden castle, as most of the scenes taking place there were filmed on sets built at Arborfield Film Studios, located on the outskirts of London.
However, it is possible to hike the gorgeous Old Man of Storr trail on the Isle of Skye in Scotland to visit the famous rocky landscape used for this location.
The Storr has been featured in many films including Prometheus, Macbeth, and Snow White and the Huntsman.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Jacques Dufrenoy - Map
In the second season, due to the international lockdown in 2020, the production did not travel beyond the borders of the United Kingdom.
According to Netflix, Arborfield hosted the three main stages where most of the interior sets were built. Village scenes were filmed on the studio backlot. You can still see the inner courtyard set of Kaer Morhen on Google Maps.
An exterior section of the fortress, including the training trail, was also filmed at MOD Deepcut Surrey, a training base for the British Army near Camberley.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
Some of the establishing shots of the cities featured in The Witcher were created by casting digital magic over real-world locations.
If you've ever been to Transylvania, you may recognize Sighișoara as Tretogor, the capital of Redania.
Sighișoara and the great architecture of this region of Romania inspired the city and the palace of King Vizimir (played by Ed Birch).
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
The Elven village hidden in the trees in the second episode was built at Coldharbour Wood in Chichester, West Sussex.
Also, some other scenes taking place in the forest were filmed at Bourne Wood in Farnham, Surrey, including the aftermath of the Battle of Sodden in the first episode, "A Grain of Truth".
Image courtesy of Netflix - Maps: Coldharbour Wood / Bourne Wood
In the third episode, "What Is Lost", Geralt and Vesemir (Kim Bodnia) bring Eskel’s body to a spectacular cave near Kaer Morhen.
These scenes were filmed at the Hodge Close Quarry in the Lake District.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
The small waterfall where Ciri is chased by a monster is the Gordale Scar in the Yorkshire Dales National Park in northern England.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
The temple in ruins in Aretuza, ready for Cahir’s execution in the presence of the Northern Kingdoms' leaders, was filmed at Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire.
This stunning former Cistercian abbey, founded in 1132, was disbanded in the mid-16th century during the dissolution of the monasteries process in Britain.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
Episode four, "Redanian Intelligence", opens with Geralt and Ciri training in the snowed hills of Blea Tarn, one of the most iconic spots to visit in the Lake District.
This picturesque location appears again in a scene with Yarpen Zigrin's dwarves in the seventh episode.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
In episode five, "Turn Your Back", we first see footage filmed at the Frensham Common, doubling as the fields around Cintra, where Geralt and Istredd (played by Royce Pierreson) investigate the monolith fall site.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
In episode six, "Dear Friend", Geralt and Ciri fight a winged monster at Plumpton Rocks, an 18th-Century man-made garden in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
The Temple of Melitele is loosely based on the Moorish Alhambra Palace in Granada, pictured on the bottom.
The interior is a studio set, and the exterior, when Geralt and Ciri arrive, was filmed in the Lake District.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Andreina Schoeberlein - Map
In episode seven, "Voleth Meir", the spot where Jaskier takes a dip is the Rydal Cave, the site of a former slate quarry near Ambleside, also in the Lake District.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
The river scene with the broken suspension bridge that Ciri and Yennefer try to cross on their way to Cintra was filmed at the Low Force Waterfall in Teesdale.
This location near Barnard Castle in County Durham was also featured in the 1917 movie.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
The Witcher Season 3 Locations
Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer's hideout in the first episode, "Shaerrawedd", was filmed on Zala Beach in Stara Baska, a tiny town located on the Croatian island of Krk.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
Hunted by mercenaries hired by Rience, the trio jumps from house to house.
The next home is actually St. Jerome's church (Cerkev sv. Hieronima), located on the remote Nanos plateau in Slovenia.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
The frozen lake was filmed at the Fusine Lakes (Laghi di Fusine) in Tarvisio, Italy, very close to the border with Slovenia.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
According to the Kent Film Office, the series was filmed at Fort Amherst in Medway, England. This is the short scene in the dungeons with Rience and a monster dealer.
Also, a barn at Jolly Farm in Sevenoaks was transformed into a medieval tavern. Maybe for the scenes with Fringilla tasting wine?
The Belleteyn Festival sequence with the medieval tents and the giant wild armadillo was shot at Jacks Hill Park in the Epping forest near London.
The ruins of the ancient elven palace, Shaerrawedd (pictured), was a set built at the studios.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
The Predjama Castle in Slovenia served as the facade of the Vuilpanne Castle where Geralt finds a mysterious girl in the second episode, "Unbound".
This Renaissance fortress was built within a cave, blending with the natural landscape.
The establishing shot of the Nilfgaardian Empire palace, which appears in the third episode, "Reunion", is a CGI image that seems inspired by the unique Šibenik Cathedral in Croatia.
This monumental temple features a barrel-shaped roof and a dome that is not made of wood or bricks, but only of blocks of stone.
In the fourth episode, "The Invitation", the troupe embarks on a raft to Aretuza.
The port was filmed in a cliff near the Nash Point Lighthouse in South Wales.
When they land after the aquatic creature encounter, it looks like the are in the same area, at Llantwit Major Beach.
The palace garden in Redania is located at the Great Fosters Hotel in Egham near London.
Created in 1918, it is considered one of the finest topiary gardens (giving artistic forms to plants) in the world.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
As Redanian Intelligence reported, the scene where Yennefer jumps into the portal was recorded at the Trefil Quarry in Wales.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
The beach in the sixth episode, "Everybody Has a Plan 'til They Get Punched in the Face", was filmed at Three Cliffs Bay on the Gower Peninsula in Wales.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
The Korath Desert in the seventh episode, "Out of the Fire, Into the Frying Pan", was filmed near Erfoud in Morocco, probably in the famous Merzouga sand dunes area.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
The establishing shot of Nilfgaard in the season finale, "The Cost of Chaos", is a CGI image.
However, the interior of Emperor Emhyr's palace was filmed in the Guildford Cathedral in Surrey, England.
This Neo-Gothic/Art Deco temple, built between 1936 and 1961, was also featured in The Sandman series.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Stained Glass Artist - Map
IMDb and Redanian Intelligence are our two recommended sources of information to stay updated about the series shooting locations and news.Also, here is our article revealing all the locations where the prequel spin-off Blood Origin was filmed.
The show stars Superman Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia, The Witcher. The main cast is completed by young English actress Freya Allan playing Princess Ciri of Cintra and Anya Chalotra as the former hunchbacked sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg.
The Witcher is also a renowned video game series. Showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich has created a Netflix hit product that will inevitably be compared to Game of Thrones.
Can you help to improve this article about the filming locations of The Witcher?
To complete and correct this report, any feedback, info, or images that you may have are more than welcome, thank you!
NOTICE: If you’re using this information on your website, please credit and link to this page as a source.
*****
To complete and correct this report, any feedback, info, or images that you may have are more than welcome, thank you!
NOTICE: If you’re using this information on your website, please credit and link to this page as a source.
*****
Ra Moon
Atlas of Wonders is looking for wonderful Filming Locations all around the world. We are constantly updating and improving our posts with new details and images. Follow us here:
There is one more place where they filimng Near to budapest called egri vár másolata.
ReplyDeleteA sárkánybarlang egyértelműen felismerhető, a tatabányai Szelim barlang.
ReplyDeleteThe dragon's cave is located in Tatabanya, the name of Szelim-lyuk.
ReplyDeleteThe magic garden scene from ep 1 is the inner garden of Vajdahunyad castle in Budapest, it's normally closed to the public though.
ReplyDeletehttp://checkmybudapest.blogspot.com/2013/07/vajdahunyad-vara-budapesten-1-resz.html
Does anyone know where is the house in the woods (ep 8, when they meet) located? It looks wonderful *.*
ReplyDeleteHi i would like to add Niedzica Castle, Poland, region Spisz, near UNESCO heritage Dunajec Gorge. Niedzica play Wyzima Castle twice in 3 episodes. Austrian Castle played only old Vyzima.
ReplyDeleteWhere is the forest river scene filmed in episode 1, where Geralt is confronted by Renfri, after he met with Stregobor?
ReplyDeleteThanks for this (I was wondering about it).
ReplyDeleteYou do know Maramures and Sighisoara are in Romania, yes?
ReplyDeleteThe set at Arborfield was my army Barracks back in 1987 REME, in the pictures it shows the drill square.
ReplyDeleteNedeca (Niedzica) is a Slovak castle.
ReplyDeleteI seem to recall bumping into the filming of a fantasy series (which I believed later to be The Witcher) in Snowdonia, North Wales. Am I right?
ReplyDeleteAll comments are reviewed prior to publication