Magical Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, the game of thrones, better known as Game of Thrones, takes on a new round week after week. Today, I will not only show you the magical filming locations of the cult series, but also what else Northern Ireland has to offer. Let yourself be enchanted!

For years now, we have been following with excitement the various storylines of the competitors in the battle for the coveted Iron Throne of Westeros. Lies, intrigue, murder, and betrayal are on the agenda here. If you've watched the new season of Game of Thrones, you may have caught a glimpse of the magical land that I want to introduce to you now: Northern Ireland!

In my travel magazine, I have already detailed all the filming locations of Game of Thrones. The countries Spain, Croatia, Iceland, and Morocco wonderfully represent the diversity of the Seven Kingdoms in Westeros and Essos, but the unreal Northern Ireland is also highly prized by the producers. No other country embodies the rugged North around Winterfell as well as the northern part of the Emerald Isle, Ireland! Whether you are Game of Thrones fans or indifferent to the series, the highlights of Northern Ireland will surely delight you!

Located in the north of Northern Ireland, you will find a filming location that has truly enchanted many Game of Thrones fans: The Dark Hedges. The avenue with the gnarled, winding trees was established in the 18th century and served as the approach to the estate of Gracehill House. As majestic as its original purpose, the Dark Hedges are also featured in the series Game of Thrones, as they are part of the Kingsroad, which everyone must travel who wants to go to King's Landing, the capital of Westeros. Arya Stark also fled along this path after the beheading of her father, which is one of the most notable filming locations of all previous seasons.

Just under 80 kilometers and a one-hour drive separate the capital of Northern Ireland, Belfast, from the Dark Hedges, allowing you to visit the magical location even on a day trip. It's worth it!

Noble, unyielding, and loyal, this is how House Stark is known. Even though not many family members remain, many of you are still rooting for Arya, Sansa, and Jon Snow. Would you have thought that the fiercely contested castle of Winterfell is also located in Northern Ireland, specifically in Downpatrick in the east of the country? Here, surrounded by dense forest and Strangford Lough, a 26-kilometer long lake, you will find the 18th-century mansion Castle Ward, where many of the scenes of Winterfell were filmed. This includes the scenes of the capture of Winterfell by Theon Greyjoy, filmed at Castle Ward.

Do you remember the episode from the first season where the Starks found their orphaned direwolf pups? The snowy dense forest that you see in this and other scenes serves not only as a hunting ground for the Starks, but also contains a shrine dedicated to the Old Gods of the Forest, which is a weirwood tree with a face.

These picturesque shots were taken in Tollymore Forest Park, in the southeast of Northern Ireland. Camping or hiking along the adjoining Black Mountain Trail are activities that should definitely be undertaken when visiting the national park. However, there is a bittersweet note: since direwolves were also thought to be extinct in Westeros, you will likely have little luck running into any. ;-)

The witch Melisandre probably gained favor among many fans in the last season. While her magic and blood spells were usually met with little sympathy, this changed dramatically in season 6. Surely you remember season 2 when Melisandre gave birth to a shadow creature that ultimately killed Stannis Baratheon's brother Renly. These dark scenes were filmed in the Cushendun Caves in northern Northern Ireland, a real highlight not just for Game of Thrones fans.

Also associated with Melisandre's dark magic is the former seat of House Targaryen, Dragonstone. After the fall of the mad king and the (almost) complete eradication of the dragon blood, Dragonstone came under the control of King Robert Baratheon, who in turn granted it to Stannis. In the series, we mainly associate this seat of power with the Mussenden Temple perched on the cliffs, where Melisandre burns the statues of the old gods. The temple, which used to serve as a library, is also located in the north of the island near Castlerock.

The Ironborn, a people of rough seafarers around House Greyjoy, live on the remote and harsh Iron Islands. Theon Greyjoy, who had to leave these as a child and was raised by the Starks in Winterfell, returns in season 2 to Pyke on those islands and meets his sister Yara for the first time, who was named heir by their father during his absence. Some scenes taking place on the Iron Islands were filmed in Ballintoy in the far north of Northern Ireland. The rugged coastline seems tailor-made to embody the grey and stormy Iron Islands, don't you think?

When I present highlights of Northern Ireland, one cannot be missed: the Giant's Causeway, the causeway of the giants. Although the formation is not a filming location of Game of Thrones, you definitely should visit it, as you will see a piece of our Earth's history here! The 40,000 legendary basalt columns in the northern part of the Emerald Isle look as if they were made by human hands, yet they are already 60 million years old and some stand up to 12 meters tall. Researchers have concluded that the vertical columns likely formed due to an ancient volcanic eruption and the subsequent cooling of the lava. Regardless of how the formation came to be, it looks simply fascinating and fits perfectly into Northern Ireland's surreal landscapes!

Northern Ireland, what a country! It's no wonder that many myths and legends surround this magical piece of earth and that the producers of Game of Thrones could not resist the scenic beauty of Northern Ireland! Whether you are Game of Thrones fans or regular vacationers who might not be fond of the cult series, you will surely be enchanted by the beauty of this region!

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