For those in the know, it was always strange that Game of Thrones scoured all of Spain looking for castles and settled for Catalonia, Andalusia, Cáceres and the Basque Country. All of them make for fine locations, of course, but if you are looking for castles in Spain you should probably go to the community literally named after the many castles it has: Castille. Apparently, the producers wised up for their last attempt, as they have been witnessed scouting a Castillian location for season eight: Urueña Castle.
Today, Castillian newspaper El Norte de Castilla picked up on this development, originally reported by the local Urueña paper, El Cisco, back on June 18, when Game of Thrones producers Bernie Caulfield and Chris Newman, accompanied by HBO’s Spanish Location Manager Pedro Aráez, visited this 11-to-13th Century Castillian castle.
Reportedly, the Game of Thrones producers showed a particular interest in Urueña’s round tower, known as “Peinador de la Reina.” This characteristic torreón, pictured above, springs out of the cube-shaped castle walls, which nowadays hold a cemetery (this may seem strange, but there are hundreds like it around and little to do with them.)
Though there is no photographic evidence, Game of Thrones is said to have scouted another location in Urueña: the Santa María del Azogue, also known as Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, a 16th Century Renaissance church built over its Medieval predecessor:
Game of Thrones shot in my own homeland for season seven, so it would be pretty unbelievable if they were to also film in Castille, the homeland of my father’s ancestors.
If you recall, the show’s eighth and final season may return to film in Southern Spain, specifically at Seville’s Royal Shipyards and Itálica’s amphitheater. Spain is shaping up to be a major filming location yet again, despite the arrival of winter in Westeros. That written, snow and cold aren’t unusual in Castille, unlike in Seville, so if Game of Thrones heads to Urueña in the middle of winter, and if they are lucky, they could find it like this.
So, what’s this supposed to be? Which castle still remains? White Harbour, maybe?
What this could be? By the end of S7 we will see almost every location in Westeros.
Storm’s End would be the only major castle left to portray, right? And the focus on the round tower would fit with that.
Luke, thanks for this, love the photos esp of the snow! GOT (and you) have so got me thinking of a trip to Spain in the future. Beautiful country.
Storm’s End perhaps?
Storm’s end?
Jack Sharpe,
Ooh, Storm’s End could be a good guess! Maybe it will be the place where the WW ‘storm’ will end… Or maybe Gendry could take it…
Jack Sharpe,
That is what I was going to say! Maybe if Kings Landing is destroyed in the upcoming war Storms End will be the (Temporary) new capitol?
Unless they were to just use this as a stand-in for an area of a previous location that’s a good question. I don’t really know what place of the story they’d still want to add after S7…
Greywater Watch of House Reed is a possibility
Karhold… or Last Hearth perhaps as well…
afeastfordances,
Yeah. That’s the only major castle left. After S7.
Clob,
But Greywater Watch wouldn’t look like this place.
Just becasue it’s a new location it doesn’t mean it’s a new, previously unseen castle. Of course, that’s more exciting, and I won’t be able (neither am I willing) to stop the cries of “Storm’s End” or “White Harbor!”. But still, keep that in mind. It could easily be part of King’s Landing, for example.
But speculation is my thing, so here it goes, outside of the body of the article. There are several possibilities. White Harbor is possible, though I suspect they would just find a Northern Irish castle for the Northern look. Storm’s End may be it, except I can’t really see why we’d need to go there now. Sunspear, Casterly Rock, Highgarden and King’s Landing are my prime suspects.
It looks like the surrounding terrain is kind of low-lying and maybe a bit boggy (particularly in that winter photo), so maybe if they made it look like that pond goes the whole way around, it could be Greywater Watch?
Hmm… Storm’s End… Considering the current situation in the books that might fit as a good possibility. This castle isn’t near a large body of water though is it? That would make things more difficult to create a castle that’s suppose to be on a cliff point above the sea. The show’s story is currently a bit far removed from Storm’s End importance seemingly, while more northern areas would seem to fit in where it’s headed…
You guys are getting me hyped for Storm’s End. That castle would be such a good fit!
Towers also make me think of the ToJ though lol
I have a feeling I can guess what that church might be for lmao.
They rarely use entire castles. If they are indeed filming at the tower, that’s probably the only thing we’ll see of Urueña castle. So don’t pay much mind to the rest of the building or the surroundings (the lake, etc.) I know speculation is less fun that way, but oh well. At least keep it in mind 😉
Luka Nieto,
Glad you made it back OK. Cool meeting you!
Harrenhal?
Exactly! I don’t think it or areas of it are any closer to being Storm’s End than they could be for Greywater Watch… or Karhold or Last Hearth when it comes down to filming and cgi. At this point speculation could probably be fueled more by story locations that are most likely to be included. That is if it would be a new area at all or just a substitute for a previous one.
Clob,
The needs of the story and the architectural style of the particular locations the producers seem to be interested in should be what guides us.
Snow and cold? Yay a place I can visit!!!
James Rivers,
Glad to meet you too! It was, I admit, weird to have people recognize me by my name-tag or even just by my face, but by the end I got a little bit used to it 😉
Pigeon,
Castille is not unlike a desert in that it’s all about extreme heat during the day and Summer and extreme cold during the night and Winter. So be careful to visit it at the appropriate time of the year 😉
https://ucmedia.escapadarural.com/es/pan/ucmainimage/village28782/village28782.jpg
This image screams King’s Landing in capital letters, but it seems unusual to want a castle full of gravestones. Unless they just want the exteriors/the fall-out with Croatia deepens.
EDIT – If they only seek the tower, it seems the golden-brown fields could fill in for Dornish landscape.
When are they filming here?
I’m inclined to say Storm’s End, as it has only one tower- “a colossal drum crowned with formidable battlements”.
Although I’m kinda hoping it turns out to be Starfall.
Jack Bauer 24,
They were just scouting the location; it hasn’t even been confirmed they will definitely film there. Even if we knew for sure, we don’t know anything about the production schedule for the eighth season. It’s completely up in the air. According to HBO and D&D, not even they are sure yet.
Could the Santa María del Azogue be another King’s Landing location? I’m no architecture expert, but it looks similar to the locations they’ve used previously for the capital.
Precisely. That’s a reason why more northern locations came to mind for me first. I’m just going to assume that if there is an invasion of WW and wights in S8 that there will be quite a bit of defending from strongholds in their path…
Adding to the list of possibilities: Summerhall.
What do you mean?
Ndawg19,
Lol this is sort of my hope too. Even though I doubt they will actually include Starfall, I wonder if the focus on Dawn at the ToJ means we have not seen the last of that blade. It might be that it’s only purpose was to signify the “bleeding star” part of the prophecy. But since it is possible that Dawn was instrumental, in some way, in the ending of the Long Night the last time, who knows whether it will play a part in the future as well.
Storms End seems more likely, I agree.
To me that picture with the snow lines up perfectly with daenerys house of the undying kings landing …. the walkers have to make it to KL … its the centre of everything and by season 8 I’m sure winter will be there in full force
ghost of winterfell,
The first thing that came to mind when I read “church” was
It is obviously Bronn’s new castle promised to him by Jamie Lannister because “a Lannister always pays his debts”
Flayed Potatoes,
Ohh…lmao it could be.
Where’s the new Memory Lane?
Luka Nieto,
I’ve got to say, were it not for you and your illustrated “travelogs” about Spain, I wouldn’t have known how beautiful the country is. Now I’m excited about planning a visit.
Jack Sharpe,
”The war is not over. And I promise you, friend, the true enemy won’t wait out the storm. He brings the storm.”
But maybe Storm’s End is the place where the storm ends.
Cathair,
I dunno with the coming war, that might be just the place to be…..um, in a manner of speaking of course..
Ten Bears,
I have a friend who is walking along the santiago de compostela trail and has been posting photos of it every day. So yeah, one day there (well, I won’t be able to walk the trail but still, want to visit)
Jack Bauer 24,
its starting on Friday. leading up to the premier
Starts tomorrow actually. Just saw their tweet about it.
What about the Nightfort?
Jack Bauer 24,
Oh, cool – I will be going out of town on Friday and was afraid I’d be far behind before I could get online. Tomorrow would work….
ash,
The gravestones aspect was partly why I suggested the Nightfort. Possibly a thousands of years old castle once held by the Night King, too big to be held by the Watch? Might be a great place for the Night King to mass his army as attack south.
We didn’t see all that much of the structure of the castle they used for the Night Fort before.
But this may just be wishful thinking on my part.
Casterly Rock!
afeastfordances,
This was my exact thought as well!
It might be just me but that third picture with the two storey building with the trees in front of it is giving me massive “House with the red door and lemon tree” vibes, that Dany yearns for and dreams about in the books
John,
Except, all signs suggest that Season 7 will show us Casterly Rock, and High Garden, so they would have already filmed there.
Oh please, oh please, oh please, oh please!! Flashback to young Ned delivering the sword back to Ashara!!
Ashara D:
I have no idea how it would advance the plot, but that would be pretty cool.
As an aside, Beric Dondarrion was engaged to Allyria Dayne, Arthur and Ashara’s younger sister. I’m going to blithely assume the engagement’s been called off for a while now… 😉
Mel,
I’ve been wondering if we would ever see it! It’s such an integral part of Dany’s psyche, I hope we do.
I kind of envy Bernie Caulfield and Chris Newman for their job: they get to travel around and visit beautiful places.
So…could it be Storm’s End or perhaps…Starfall???
Mel,
My sentiment exactly. Good call. Nice job pointing that out!!
Hmmm….from the side profile it really doesn’t necessarily look like a church, that’s true…Hmm…I’ll take that under advisement.
The castle in the top picture…surely that’s meant to be Storm’s End, no?
htmlhttp://alamy.com/stock-photo-the-church-of-Santa-Maria-del-above-is-a-Romanesque-church-with-gothic-101650274.html
This is the church’s main entrance…
George,
That is not the same church, though. The church in your photo is in Puebla de Sanabria, another village in Castilla y León.
I have been to Urueña many times. Santa María del Azogue is quite disappointing, actually. The real gem in this village is the beautiful Ermita de la Anunciada: https://i2.wp.com/static.ociopareja.com/img/blog/322/urena.jpg
The castle is very small, and the lake you see in the photo with the snow is more like a pond. It was recovered about 15 years ago, when the castle and parts of the wall that were in ruins were repaired. But it is not a very impressive fortress, like the castle of Peñafiel, for instance: https://t4.ftcdn.net/jpg/01/45/81/37/240_F_145813720_02TEuXhihQwIQaSZESI6blWUffeUdCSU.jpg
The walk on the walls in Urueña is absolutely beautiful, especially in the spring, because the village is actually on top of a hill and all the surrounding countryside, miles and miles of it, is the most wonderful green. Watching the sunset from the west-facing battlements is one of the most magnificent scenes you can see around here.
Castilla y León is such a beautiful region full of the most amazing castles. I hope they get to film season 8 here, it would be perfect as The Reach!
Starfall?
Fascinating that they are looking so much towards Spain for S8 filming locations. I feel the Storms End guess is a good one but equally a flash back or some stand in Kings Landing could also work. I’m expecting most of the season to take place up North though which doesn’t leave too many locations which appear to fit.