House of the Dragon Season 1: Where Was the TV Show Filmed?

of House of the Dragon Season 1: Where Was the TV Show Filmed? Naman Shrestha
August 20, 2022
Image Credit: Ollie Upton/HBO

Based on the ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ books and novel ‘Fire & Blood’ by George R. R. Martin, HBO’s ‘House of the Dragon’ is created by the author and Ryan J. Condal, serving as a prequel to the popular series ‘Game of Thrones.’ Set nearly two centuries before the events of the parent show, the narrative recounts the epic history and the rise and fall of House Targaryen. It chronicles all the events that lead to the Targaryen war of succession, the Dance of the Dragons, connecting several story arcs to the original show.

Until now, ‘Game of Thrones’ fans had only heard about some of the Targaryens, but thanks to ‘House of the Dragons,’ they finally get to see these characters come to life and follow them on their own journey. The narrative involves many similar elements and themes, including dragons, that are bound to take the viewers down memory lane and make them look forward to each episode. Moreover, there are several iconic locations that you may spot in the series, making you wonder if they are the same ones seen in the original show. Well, allow us to provide you with the necessary details and put your mind at ease!

House of the Dragon Filming Locations

‘House of the Dragon’ is filmed in Spain, England, Portugal, Croatia, and the US, specifically in Extremadura, Catalonia, Andalucía, Cornwall, Derbyshire, Hertfordshire, Hampshire, Surrey, Castelo Branco District, Dubrovnik, and California. The principal photography for the inaugural iteration of the series commenced in April 2021. The production got halted in July 2021 for two days due to a positive COVID-19 case among the cast and crew members. Finally, the shooting resumed and was seemingly wrapped up by February 2022. Now, let’s take a look at all the specific locations that appear in the HBO series!

Extremadura, Spain

Many pivotal scenes for ‘House of the Dragon’ are lensed in Extremadura, an autonomous community in Spain. Specifically, the team sets up camp in and around the city of Cáceres. In October 2021, they were spotted taping several sequences for the debut season in Trujillo Alcazaba at Pl. del Castillo, 1, 10200 Trujillo. The castle stands in for Casterly Rock, the ancestral stronghold of House Lannister.

Besides that, Arco de la Estrella at C. Arco de la Estrella and Cathedral of Santa María at Pl. Sta. María, 3 serve as important lensing sites for the series. In addition, many exterior shots are recorded across the city, including Plaza de San Jorge, Plaza San Mateo, Calle Amargura, Cuesta de Aldana, and Calle Adarve de Santa Ana.

Other Locations in Spain

A few portions of the series are taped in Lloret de Mar, a Mediterranean coastal town in Catalonia. As per reports, the cast and crew members of ‘House of the Dragon’ also utilize the premises of Castillo de La Calahorra, which is situated in La Calahorra in the province of Granada. The historical architecture of the castle makes it an ideal location for the series.

Cornwall, England

For filming purposes, the production team of ‘House of the Dragon’ set up camp in Cornwall, a historic and ceremonial county in South West England. As a matter of fact, during the early stages of the shooting of season 1, the production unit was spotted along Mount’s Bay, including Kynance Cove and Holywell Bay in Newquay. Moreover, the tidal island of St. Michael’s Mount in Mount’s Bay portrays Driftmark, the ancestral seat of House Velaryon, in the series.

Derbyshire, England

The production unit of the prequel also travels to Derbyshire, a county in the East Midlands of England, to tape some pivotal sequences for the show. The sites that you may spot in the backdrops of several scenes in the series are the village of Castleton, Peak District, Cave Dale, Eldon Hill, and seemingly Heanor Marketplace.

Hertfordshire, England

Several pivotal sequences for ‘House of the Dragon’ are lensed in Hertfordshire, a ceremonial county in southern England. In particular, the cast and crew make the most of the facilities of Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden (previously known as Leavesden Film Studios). A new virtual production stage, V Stage, is used to shoot the show’s scenes, making it the first production to use the advanced facility. Located on Warner Drive in Leavesden, Watford, the film studio is home to 19 stages of different sizes and two of the largest tanks in Europe, meeting all the requirements that any production might require.

Furthermore, the Iron Age hill fort of Caesar’s Camp serves as a prominent filming site for the series. The fort is located between the nearby counties of Surrey and Hampshire in southern England. It is possible that Surrey, a county in South East England, played a role in the production of the debut season by being the site of a big tourney scene.

Castelo Branco District, Portugal

Additional portions of ‘House of the Dragon’ are taped in Castelo Branco District, located in Central Portugal. In late October 2021, the filming unit was spotted recording some pivotal scenes for the inaugural season in Castle of Monsanto at R. do Castelo 32 in the village of Monsanto. Furthermore, the Castle of Penha Garcia at Largo da Igreja 1 in Penha Garcia is another prominent production location utilized in the series.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

As per reports, the Croatian city of Dubrovnik is a regular feature in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Situated in the Dalmatia region, it is considered one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean. Some important landmarks with certain historical significance are the Rector’s Palace, the St. Saviour Church, the St Blaise’s church, and the Dubrovnik Bell Tower.

Los Angeles, California

For lensing a few sequences of ‘House of the Dragon’ season 1, the filming unit made a stop in Los Angeles, a major city in Southern California. They seemingly utilized the city’s diverse landscape and shot necessary scenes against suitable backdrops. Over the years, the City of Angels has hosted the production of many movies and TV shows, including ‘Whiplash,’ ‘Black Widow,’ and ‘Gaslit.’

Read More: Best Game of Thrones Episodes

SPONSORED LINKS