House of the Dragon, the long-awaited prequel to HBO‘s famous show Game of Thrones, has captivated viewers with its deep plot and beautiful visuals. This fantasy drama was made by George R.R. Martin and Ryan Condal. It takes place almost 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones and tells the story of the rise and fall of House Targaryen as well as the famous “Dance of the Dragons” war of succession. The show has quickly become a favorite among franchise fans thanks to its great cast and exciting plot. The story takes place in the made-up worlds of Westeros and Essos, but a lot of the magic happens behind the scenes in real-life places that make the fantasy worlds come to life. Let’s learn more about the interesting places where Season 1 was filmed.
What Happened in House of the Dragon Season 1?
The first season of House of the Dragon takes place almost 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones and shows the complicated world of House Targaryen. The story starts with the death of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, which causes a fight over who will take over as king. He calls together the Great Council to decide who will take the throne when his sons die. In the end, the council chooses Prince Viserys, his eldest grandson, over Princess Rhaenys, his cousin. This choice sets the stage for a series of power struggles and family problems that get worse over time.
There is a lot of personal and political trouble during King Viserys’ rule. In the first episodes, his queen, Aemma, dies while giving birth, and soon after, their son, Baelon, also dies. The court forces Viserys to choose a new heir, and he does so by choosing his daughter, Princess Rhaenyra, to take over, even though male heirs are more common. As Rhaenyra gets older, things get worse, especially with her ambitious uncle Prince Daemon and Queen Alicent Hightower, who becomes a major political foe as she tries to get the crown for her own sons.
Throughout the season, Daemon causes trouble by often taking steps to assert his claim to the throne. For example, he has an affair with Rhaenyra, which is later turned into a scandal. Families are betrayed by each other, alliances are made through marriage, and battles are fought. Daemon shows off his military skills in the Stepstones against the Triarchy.
Laena Velaryon, Daemon’s wife, dies in a tragic way, which is a major event. Rhaenyra, who is now married to Laenor Velaryon, is increasingly questioned about the legitimacy of her children. When the conflict between Rhaenyra and Alicent gets worse, Ser Vaemond Velaryon is brutally killed because he is questioning Rhaenyra’s claim to Driftmark. This has a huge impact on politics.
At the end of the season, King Viserys’ health gets worse, and the kingdom is in danger because he can’t make a decision. As power struggles between the Hightowers and Targaryens get worse, Rhaenyra’s future as queen becomes less certain. This sets the stage for the violent war of succession known as the Dance of the Dragons.
Where Was ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 1 Filmed?
Most of the filming for House of the Dragon was done between April 2021 and February 2022. Some of the most beautiful places in England, Spain, and Portugal were chosen by the production team to show how grand Westeros and its surrounding areas are. House of the Dragon chose to film in a smaller area than Game of Thrones, which went to faraway places like Iceland and Morocco. Here are some of the most important places that made Season 1 come to life.
United Kingdom
Cornwall
Cornwall is in the southwestern corner of England. Filming began there in April 2021. This beautiful area was the setting for a number of famous scenes:
At low tide, you can only get to this tidal island called St. Michael’s Mount by crossing a causeway. It was Driftmark, the ancestral home of House Velaryon. Its castle from the Middle Ages was the perfect place for scenes with Corlys Velaryon, Rhaenys Targaryen, and their family.
Holywell Beach: This sandy beach was used for scenes with Daemon Targaryen and Rhaenyra Targaryen, and it was shown a lot in early promotional photos. This is also where the battle scenes in The Stepstones were filmed, including Daemon’s brave win over the Crabfeeder.
Kynance Cove: This area is famous for its beautiful turquoise water and dramatic rock formations. In The Stepstones, Kynance Cove was used as the Velaryon army camp and battle preparations were filmed there.
Derbyshire
It was moved to Derbyshire in northern England in September 2021:
Castleton and the Peak District: This is where scenes from the Dragonpit with young Rhaenyra, Alicent Hightower, and Ser Harrold Westerling were filmed. Crews set up in the scenic Peak District, which forms the southern edge of the Pennine mountain range, lying between Manchester and Sheffield. The rough landscapes of Derbyshire were also the setting for Daemon Targaryen’s tense journey to meet Lady Rhea Royce in Runestone.
Surrey
In Episode 3 (“Second of His Name”), the lush forests of Surrey were turned into the Kingswood:
Aldershot: This is where a royal hunting camp was built. This is where King Viserys and his court started the famous hunt for the White Hart.
Wales
The northwest of Wales’s beautiful natural scenery was used as another setting for House of the Dragon:
Snowdonia National Park: This area, which is in Gwynedd and Anglesey, was used for a number of important scenes. The intimidating outside of Dragonstone was played by Trefor Quarry, and in the first scenes of the season, Dinorwig Quarry played Harrenhal.
Llanddwyn Beach, Anglesey: The “Sowing of the Dragonseeds” took place on this tidal island surrounded by a pine forest. Targaryen jerks competed to claim dragons that didn’t have riders.
The battle scenes and dramatic horse-riding scenes in Ogwen Valley and Penmachno Roman Bridge gave the Stepstones campaign more depth.
Spain
Spain’s old buildings and beautiful scenery were used to represent some of Westeros’ most famous places:
This UNESCO World Heritage city, Cáceres, took the place of Dubrovnik as the new King’s Landing. Scenes of Rhaenyra’s secret night out with Daemon were filmed on its winding medieval streets, giving the capital of Westeros a new but real look.
The town of Trujillo is only a short drive from Cáceres. Its old castle was used to represent the landward walls of King’s Landing in scenes about the defense of the city.
Lloret de Mar: In Catalonia, the Santa Clotilde Gardens were turned into the royal gardens of the Red Keep. It was there that Viserys and Laena Velaryon shared tender moments.
Castillo de La Calahorra, Granada: This Andalusian castle from the 1600s was Pentos, which was Daemon and Laena’s home while they were living in exile.
Portugal
Portugal was a great place for Dragonstone, the ancestral home of the House Targaryen:
Monsanto: The medieval castle on top of a mountain in Monsanto, which is known as the “most Portuguese village in Portugal,” looked like Dragonstone. This is where the tense talks between Daemon and Rhaenyra and the dramatic arrival of Otto Hightower with King Viserys’ message were filmed.
Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden
At Warner Bros. Leavesden Studios in Hertfordshire, England, cutting-edge technology was used for the production. The studio’s virtual production stage, which had cutting-edge LED screens, made it possible to seamlessly combine real-life locations with CGI elements, which improved the look of the show. There were scenes with dragons flying and complicated interiors that came to life here.
The production team’s dedication to realism and grandeur is clear in the way they chose these filming locations. Each place, from the stunning coastlines of Cornwall to the historic charm of Spain and the rough landscapes of Portugal, was an important part of making the world of House of the Dragon come to life. As the story of the Targaryen family continues, fans will remember these beautiful places for a long time.
See More:Â Den of Thieves 2: Pantera Filming Locations: Based on The Antwerp Diamond Heist
