Have you ever gawked at the stunning architecture and scenery featured on HBO’s House of the Dragon? While the show’s titular dragons are a work of CGI wizardry, many of its featured landmarks — which are no less awe-inspiring than its mythical fire-breathing creatures — are actual, real-life locales.
The Game of Thrones prequel series has many scenes filmed on location. Here are some of the dreamiest, must-visit landmarks featured on the HBO hit
The first season of House of the Dragon (HotD) brought gorgeous, sweeping landscape shots of outdoor locations filmed in England, Spain, and Portugal, and Season 2 retains many of those. But this new season also has a focus on the severe beauty of North Wales; scenes set in Dragonstone, the place that Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) and her loyalists call home, were largely shot there.
Here are some of the show’s filming locations to check out.
Beaumaris Castle
Anglesey, North Wales (Dragonstone)
To fully enjoy the stunning vistas of North Wales, opt for a coastal road trip with multi-day camping and countless nature walks that will truly take you away from the bustle of city living. Dedicated hikers can even spend some time at the 2,130sq km Snowdonia National Park to hike through its lush valleys and navigate an extensive network of trails that will take you to lakes, craggy peaks, and breathtaking views. You can also conquer Mount Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales at 1,085m.
If you’re more into rock climbing, try out the traditional climbing and sport climbing routes at Dinorwig quarry. The quarry ceased operations in July 1969 and was once the world’s second-largest slate quarry. Now, it is a popular filming spot (including for HotD) and houses the National Slate Museum.
The castles of North Wales are also not to be missed, seeing as there are more castles in Wales per square mile than anywhere else in the world. A few notable ones include the well-preserved Conwy Castle, built by Edward I when he conquered Wales in the 13th century, and Beaumaris Castle on Wales’ largest island, Anglesey — where you will also find a wonderful mix of beautiful nature and history. Speaking of Anglesey, many gorgeous locations here were featured on HotD. Some distinctly recognisable ones are the Menai Strait in the east of Anglesey, Penmon and Beaumaris in the north, and Llanddwyn Beach and Porth y Cwch in the south.
Old Town of Cáceres, Spain (King’s Landing)
The old town of Cáceres is a UNESCO World Heritage Site found within the Autonomous Community of Extremadura. It is a prime example of how centuries of conquests from different cultures reflect on the architecture of the place. Roman, Moorish, Northern Gothic, and Italian Renaissance architectural features meld harmoniously to give this walled city its unique look. Between the 14th and 16th centuries, rival factions ruled the city, necessitating the fortified buildings that still stand today. You can spend hours wandering through the city, imagining the centuries that passed in the picturesque Old Jewish Quarter with its narrow cobblestone streets, then munch on delicious local biscuits baked by cloistered nuns from the Convento de San Pablo, a 15th-century Gothic convent. Climb Cáceres’ tallest tower, the Torre de las Cigüeñas, named after the storks that still nest there and take in the view of the city. For a more languid tour of Cáceres, spend two days to truly explore its every nook and cranny.
St Michael’s Mount, Cornwall, England (Driftmark, House Velaryon’s stronghold)
Walk the causeway of granite setts during low tide to reach the tidal island of St Michael’s Mount, the site at which the Cornish legend of Jack the Giant Killer first sprang forth. According to the tale, there was once a sheep-stealing giant named Cormoran who terrorised mainland villagers. Jack, a young farmer’s boy, slew the giant by way of his wit and cunning, and set off on a gruesome giant-slaying career thereafter.
One could easily imagine how such fantasies were conjured up when faced with spectacular, picturesque views at the Mount. With majestic structures dating back to the 12th century, it only seems natural for this landmark to inspire fairy tales populated by giants and other fantastical creatures.
Explore the Mount’s castle — its crowning glory and foremost attraction — where rooms display possessions from the many generations of families that lived there over the centuries. Then, visit the medieval church dedicated to St Michael with its gorgeous stained-glass panels and its cool stone interiors. The Mount’s Garden Terraces of subtropical plants were designed to be seen from above, from within, and below the castle battlements, granting you incredible views in good weather.
Singapore Airlines flies to London, from which there are several travel connections to Cardiff or Cornwall. Fly to Madrid and then take a train to reach Cáceres. Visit our website to plan your travel itinerary now.
Text: Lestari Hairul
Images: Unsplash (Benjamin Elliot), Flickr (Lyn Gately), Pexels (Calam White)