Winterfell

This page is about the castle. For other uses, see: Winterfell (disambiguation)

Winterfell
Information
Type	Castle Administrative center
Location	The North, Westeros
Rulers	Kings in the North House Stark House Bolton (extinct) House Greyjoy (formerly)
Religion	Old Gods
Places of note	The Great Keep The First Keep The godswood The Great Hall The crypts Bell Tower Broken Tower Library Tower The Sept Maester's Turret Hunter's Gate East Gate The winter town
Founded	c. 7700 BC by {Brandon the Builder} (according to legend)

Winterfell marked by name on the Boltons' map in "Kill the Boy".

"Winterfell is our home. It's ours and Arya's and Bran's and Rickon's. Wherever they are, it belongs to our family. We have to fight for it."

―Sansa Stark to Jon Snow

Winterfell is the capital of the Kingdom of the North and the seat and the ancestral home of the royal House Stark. It is a very large castle located at the center of the North, from where the head of House Stark rules over his or her people.

During the War of the Five Kings, Winterfell is seized by the Starks' enemies, first by the Ironborn, and later by the Boltons. Eventually the Starks liberate Winterfell. In the subsequent Great War, Winterfell is the site of the great battle between the Army of the Dead and the Starks and their allies.

History

Background

According to legend, House Stark has held Winterfell for 8,000 years, though it has been considerably expanded upon over the centuries. It was said to have been built by House Stark's founder, Bran the Builder, during the Age of Heroes, who was also said to have constructed the Wall and even Storm's End.

The castle is located alongside the Kingsroad as it makes its way from the Wall to the capital of the Six Kingdoms, King's Landing, more than a thousand miles to the south. A small godswood is enclosed within the walls. It is situated atop hot springs which keep the castle warm even in the worst winters. Winding tombs below the castle contain the remains of Stark kings and lords and record the history of the ancient family. The castle has stood for millennia. According to Maester Luwin, there are hidden passageways built in the castle so its Lords could escape.

Game of Thrones: Season 1

The Stark family is at Winterfell. Following Jon Arryn's death, king Robert arrives along with much of the royal court, including Cersei Lannister, their three children, Jaime and Tyrion. A great feast is held in Robert's honor. Robert visits the tomb of Lyanna Stark and asks Eddard to return with him to King's Landing as his new Hand.

After word reaches Robb that his father has been arrested in King's Landing, he calls the armies of all the Northern bannermen. Robb departs Winterfell to lead his army to war in the south and leaves Bran in charge as acting lord of Winterfell.

Game of Thrones: Season 2

House Greyjoy invades the North. The treacherous Theon captures Winterfell. Theon's men turn against him and hand him over to the Boltons. After killing the Ironborn, Ramsay Snow orders to destroy Winterfell. The castle is put to the torch and most of her people to the sword, with few if any survivors. All of the wooden parts of the castle are burned out, though the core stone structures remain intact.

Game of Thrones: Season 3

Robb Stark, who is at Harrenhal at this point in time, receives word of the destruction of Winterfell at the hands of the Boltons. Following the Red Wedding, Roose Bolton intends to relocate to Winterfell.

Game of Thrones: Season 4

House Bolton bannerman riding to Winterfell

Following the siege of Moat Cailin, the Bolton army returns to the North, to enforce Bolton/Lannister rule, and heads for Winterfell.

Game of Thrones: Season 5

The Boltons settle in at Winterfell and bring in work crews and timber to start rebuilding the burned-out parts of the castle. Stannis attempts to liberate Winterfell, but is defeated by the Boltons.

Winterfell during the battle.

Game of Thrones: Season 6

The Starks defeat the Boltons. Wintefell is finally restored to House Starks.

Winterfell is retaken by the Starks.

The Northen lords gather at Winterfell and proclaim Jon the King in the North.

Game of Thrones: Season 7

Jon holds court at Winterfell, in which he and Sansa prepare for the defense against the White Walkers.

Sansa helps prepare Winterfell for the Great War. Bran returns to Winterfell, and Arya too.

Game of Thrones: Season 8

Jon returns to Winterfell alongside Daenerys and her troops. They are greeted in the Winterfell courtyard by the Starks.

The combined armies of the living prepare the defenses of Winterfell against the oncoming army of the dead. The White Walkers soon arrive in the night with their army of the dead, leading to a great battle. As a result of this battle, Many battlements were destroyed, along with many of the gates and one of the walls, as well as some damage to the towers. The tombs in the crypts beneath Winterfell also received due to the dead inside bursting out to attack the living.

Notable residents of the castle

Current residents

• Queen Sansa Stark, daughter of Lord Eddard and Lady Catelyn Stark. Briefly lived in Winterfell under the Bolton's reign as Ramsay Bolton's wife, but escaped and helped Jon retake Winterfell with the help of the knights of the Vale. She is the current Queen in the North and Lady of Winterfell.
• Wolkan, the castle's new maester, after the death of Maester Luwin. Formally served the Boltons until their subsequent extinction at the hands of the Starks.
• Aberdolf Strongbeard, man-at-arms in the Winterfell garrison.

Former residents

Stark rule

• Lord Rickon Stark, the Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North. He swore allegiance to King Viserys I Targaryen and Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, promising to uphold the princess's status as heir to the Iron Throne.
• Lord {Rickard Stark}, the Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North. Burned to death by wildfire at the order of the Mad King {Aerys Targaryen}.
  • {Brandon Stark}, his eldest son, strangled to death during an attempt to save his father, by the order of the Mad King in King's Landing.
  • Lord {Eddard Stark}, his second son, the Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North. He briefly served as Hand of the King to his long-time friend King Robert Baratheon, and briefly as Lord Regent and Protector of the Realm for Robert's heir, Joffrey Baratheon. Executed under false charges of treason, at Joffrey's order.
    • Lady {Catelyn}, his wife of House Tully, betrayed and murdered at the Red Wedding.
      • King {Robb Stark}, their eldest son and the new Lord of Winterfell and King in the North, betrayed and murdered at the Red Wedding.
        • His direwolf, {Grey Wind}, shot to death at the Red Wedding.
        • Sansa's direwolf, {Lady}, executed on the Kingsroad.
        • Arya's direwolf, Nymeria, leading a pack of wolves in the Riverlands.
        • Bran's direwolf, {Summer}, killed in the battle at the cave of the Three-Eyed Raven.
      • Princess Arya Stark, Jon's maternal cousin and presumed half-sister. Trained with the Faceless Men at the House of Black and White in Braavos before returning to Winterfell after finding out about the Battle of the Bastards.
      • King Bran the Broken, Jon's maternal cousin and presumed half-brother, as well as the last living son of Lord Eddard and Lady Catelyn Stark. Went beyond the Wall and became the new Three-Eyed Raven. Officially abdicated his title as Lord of Winterfell. Incumbent king of the Six Kingdoms.
      • {Rickon Stark}, their youngest son, heir to the North was traveling to Last Hearth when captured by Smalljon Umber. Murdered by Ramsay Bolton just before the beginning of the Battle of the Bastards.
        • His direwolf, {Shaggydog}, killed when House Umber betrayed Rickon to Ramsay Bolton.
  • {Lyanna Stark}, his only daughter, "abducted" by Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. Died at the Tower of Joy in Dorne after giving birth to her son, Jon Snow.
    • Jon Snow - son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen, publicly known as Eddard Stark's illegitimate son, who served as the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch at Castle Black. Killed by his own men and later resurrected by Melisandre. Formerly King in the North until he bent the knee to Daenerys Targaryen, at which point he became the Warden of the North. Exiled again to the Night's Watch after assassinating Daenerys.
      • His direwolf, Ghost.
  • {Benjen Stark}, his youngest son, First Ranger in the Night's Watch at Castle Black. Died saving Jon Snow from wights following the wight hunt.
• Ser Davos Seaworth, former Hand of the King under Stannis Baratheon and now Master of Ships to Bran the Broken.
• Ser Brienne of Tarth, the former sworn sword to Sansa and Arya, now Lord Commander of the Kingsguard to Bran the Broken.
• Ser Podrick Payne, Brienne's former squire, now Kingsguard to Bran the Broken.
• Lord Yohn Royce, Lord of Runestone and bannerman to House Arryn. Declared for House Stark with the rest of the knights of the Vale.
• Queen {Daenerys Targaryen} - Came north with Jon Snow to fight the Army of the Dead.
  • Her dragons: Drogon and {Rhaegal}.
• Lord Tyrion Lannister - formerly Daenerys's trusted advisor and Hand of the Queen. Now Hand of the King to Bran the Broken.
• Ser {Jorah Mormont} - Daenerys's loyal knight and commander.
• {Varys} - Daenerys's spymaster.
• Prince {Theon Greyjoy} - Returned to Winterfell to defend the Starks during the Battle of Winterfell. Killed by the Night King protecting Bran Stark.
• {Sandor Clegane} - Came north with Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow to fight the Army of the Dead.
• Lord Gendry Baratheon - Last known surviving bastard son of Robert Baratheon. Legitimized by Queen Daenerys and made Lord of Storm's End at Winterfell.
• Ser {Jaime Lannister} - Deserted Cersei and came North to fight for the living. Later returned to her and died with her in King's Landing.
• Ser {Rodrik Cassel}, the master-at-arms at Winterfell, in charge of training fresh recruits with weapons. Executed by Theon Greyjoy.
  • {Jory Cassel}, captain of the castle guard and nephew of Rodrik Cassel. Killed in King's Landing by Ser Jaime Lannister.
• {Farlen}, the kennelmaster, put to the sword during the Sack of Winterfell.
  • {Palla}, his daughter, put to the sword during the Sack of Winterfell.
• {Luwin}, the castle's maester. Speared fatally by Dagmer and later mercy-killed at his own request by Osha.
• {Mikken}, the blacksmith, put to the sword during the Sack of Winterfell.
• {Hallis Mollen}, the new captain of the castle guard following Jory Cassel's departure, killed during the capture of Winterfell.
• {Mordane}, septa and governess for Sansa and Arya Stark. Executed in King's Landing during the purge of the Stark household.
• {Old Nan}, a former retainer and servant who retired. She told the Stark children stories about life in times gone by. Died of old age.
  • {Hodor}, Old Nan's grandson or great-grandson, a simpleton stableboy. Died protecting Meera and Bran from wights.
• {Vayon Poole}, the Steward of Winterfell. Killed in King's Landing during the purge of the Stark household.
  • Jeyne Poole, his daughter.
• {Tommy}, the barber, put to the sword during the Sack of Winterfell.
• Tormund, a former wildling raider and the leader of the army of Free Folk that helped Jon defeat the Boltons. He and his army left to man the wall at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea. He later returned to Winterfell following the Breaching of the Wall, and left again for Castle Black.
  • An unknown number of wildlings that fought and survived during the Battle of the Bastards, as well as Northmen serving as soldiers of Winterfell.

Bolton rule

• Lord {Roose Bolton}, Lord of the Dreadfort, Lord of Winterfell, and Warden of the North. Killed by Ramsay.
  • Lady {Walda Bolton}, Roose's latest wife. Granddaughter of Lord Walder Frey. Killed by Ramsay.
    • {Roose Bolton's son}, killed by Ramsay.
  • Lord {Ramsay Bolton}, his legitimized natural son, Previous Lord of Winterfell and the Dreadfort, and Warden of the North. Executed by Sansa Stark after the Battle of the Bastards by being fed to his own hounds.
• {Reek}, formerly Theon Greyjoy, raised at Winterfell as Eddard Stark's ward and hostage for his father's good behavior. Abandoned the Stark cause and joined his father, Balon, in the War of the Five Kings. He took over Winterfell and installed himself as Prince of Winterfell until he was betrayed by his own crew shortly after. Later became the manservant and hostage of Ramsay. Helped Sansa escape Winterfell, Fled from the Iron Islands with his sister Yara Greyjoy and pledged himself to Daenerys Targaryen.
• {Myranda}, one of Ramsay's bedwarmers and lover. Pushed to her death from a catwalk by a redeemed Theon after she threatened Sansa.

Behind the scenes

For the television series, a variety of locations were used to create Winterfell as it appears on screen. For the pilot, Doune Castle in Scotland was used for some exterior shots and the great feast held when King Robert Baratheon and his party arrive. Castle Ward in County Down, Northern Ireland was used for the scenes of sparring in Winterfell's castle yard and the arrival of Robert's party at Winterfell's gates. The rest of the castle, including the other interiors and the scenes involving Bran climbing the walls, were filmed as interiors at the Paint Hall studio facility in Belfast. For the first season itself, Castle Ward was the principal filming location for the Winterfell scenes. Doune Castle was not revisited. One of the only full scenes from Doune Castle to survive from the pilot is the scene in the crypts of Winterfell when Eddard and Robert visit Lyanna's grave. All subsequent appearances of the Winterfell crypts from Season 2 onward were filmed in the cellars of Shane's Castle in Northern Ireland.

While it isn't visible on-camera at all, the cellars of Shane's Castle are infested with numerous spiders. Any scenes in the cellars involving candles with open flames (all of them, because it is dark) will make swarms of spiders crawl out of their hiding places to scramble away from the heat source. The actors report that while the camera can't see them, they can, and there are so many they can hear them - and even feel them falling onto them. The actors don't like filming scenes in the cellar as a result.

As of the end of Season 5, Winterfell is one of three locations (the others being King's Landing and Castle Black/the Wall) to be featured in every opening credits sequence, regardless as to whether the location is actually visited in the episode (this includes Season 3 and virtually all of Season 4 during which Winterfell is never visited nor seen at all).

As explained in the Blu-ray commentary, the main Winterfell set was greatly expanded in Season 5. The original sets from Seasons 1 and 2 primarily consisted of the outer courtyard, the feast hall, and one interior bedroom which could be redressed (for Eddard and Catelyn's room, Bran's room, etc.), but otherwise there wasn't an extensive interconnected interior set. For Season 5, the production team constructed a complex of staircases, corridors and bedrooms, all added on top of the existing courtyard and feast hall.

In the books

In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Winterfell is a huge castle complex spanning several acres, consisting of two massive walls with a ditch between them and a village located just outside. The complex consists of many buildings and keeps, some ancient and decrepit, some in good repair. According to legend, Winterfell was built by Bran the Builder eight thousand years ago.

The castle has been built over natural hot springs, and the scalding waters rush through its walls and chambers like blood through a man’s body, driving the chill from the stone halls, filling the glass gardens with a moist warmth, keeping the earth from freezing. Open pools smoke day and night in a dozen small courtyards. In summer, it is insignificant; in winter, it is the difference between life and death.

There is no mentioning in the novels that there are any hidden passageways in the castle.

The full castle as it appears at the start of the narrative has not been standing for eight thousand years: it was gradually expanded over many centuries like a tree growing new branches, giving it a less organized appearance than large castles which were planned out all at once such as the Red Keep in King's Landing. Parts have also had to be rebuilt over time, either due to natural degeneration or damage in sieges (Winterfell was burned out several times in ancient wars with the Boltons and other enemies, but the Starks always rallied and rebuilt it). The eldest surviving part of the castle is the First Keep, an old tower no longer actively used, which some maesters think dates back to some point after the Andal Invasion began six thousand years ago.

The crypts underneath Winterfell are massive - larger than the entire castle complex above ground. This is a testament to just how long the Starks have held Winterfell: according to tradition, there should be eight thousand years' worth of tombs in the crypts. According to tradition, while all Stark family members are buried in the crypts, statues are only made for those who were head of House Stark (either as kings or later as lords). There have been some exceptions over the generations, and Eddard himself had statues made at the tombs of his older brother Brandon and his sister Lyanna. The most ancient tombs are in the lower levels, and the more current ones closer to the surface. Many of the lower levels are half-collapsed and unexplored. With their vast size and lack of active use, it is quite easy for someone to hide in the crypts for weeks or even months at a time, as Bran, Rickon, and their followers did during the Sack of Winterfell, provided that they bring sufficient supplies with them. According to legend, when the infamous wildling rogue Bael the Bard seduced the daughter of a Stark lord, they hid out in the crypts for nearly a year undetected, long enough that when the daughter one day reappeared in her chambers she had with her the infant son that she had with Bael.

Gallery

The walls of Winterfell from up-close on the southern facade

Winterfell burning in "Valar Morghulis"

Bolton men riding during the battle in the ice

Travelers departing from Winterfell.

The household at Winterfell: from left, Hodor, Bran Stark, Arya, Sansa, Robb, Eddard, Catelyn, Maester Luwin, Rickon and Rodrik Cassel.

The godswood at Winterfell, a place of peace and contemplation for worshipers of the Old Gods.

Winterfell season 7

Winterfell as depicted in the title sequence after its sacking.

Winterfell as depicted in the title sequence in seasons one, two, six and beyond.

Winterfell as depicted under Bolton control during seasons five and six.

Castle Ward (Northern Ireland), where some Winterfell scenes were shot.

Doune Castle (Scotland), used for filming some of the Winterfell scenes in the pilot.

External links

• Winterfell on A Wiki of Ice and Fire