Winterfell

File:Bolton mini flag.png Winterfell File:Bolton mini flag.png
Information
Type	Castle, regional capital
Location	The North, Westeros
Rulers	House Bolton House Stark (formerly)
Religion	The Old Gods of the Forest
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

Reek: "Will we go home now?"

Ramsay: "I believe we will; to our new home."

— Reek and Ramsay Bolton.

The location of Winterfell on the continent of Westeros.

Winterfell is the seat of House Stark. It is a large castle located at the center of the North, from where the head of House Stark rules over his people. It is the capital of the North under King Robb Stark. The castle is located alongside the Kingsroad as it makes its way from the Wall to the capital at King's Landing, more than a thousand miles to the south. 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.

The castle is put to the torch by Ramsay Snow after Theon Greyjoy was betrayed by his own crew. After the fall of Moat Cailin, the Bolton army is currently en route to Winterfell.

Notable residents of the castle

Stark rule

• Lord {Rickard Stark}, the Lord of Winterfell, Warden of the North and Lord Paramount 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 in attempts 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, Warden of the North and Lord Paramount of the North. He briefly served as the Hand of the King and Protector of the Realm. Executed under false charges of treason, at the order of the False King {Joffrey Lannister}.
    • His wife, Lady {Catelyn Stark}, 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, {Greywind}, shot to death at the Red Wedding.
        • His wife, Queen {Talisa Stark}, stabbed to death at the Red Wedding.
          • Their unborn child, to be named Eddard Stark, killed at the Red Wedding.
      • Princess Sansa Stark, their eldest daughter, last seen leaving the Eyrie under the guise of Alayne Stone. Publicly believed dead.
        • Her direwolf, {Lady}, executed on the kingsroad.
      • Princess Arya Stark, their second daughter, on a ship to Braavos. Publicly believed dead.
        • Her direwolf, Nymeria, lost in the Riverlands.
      • Prince Bran Stark, their second son, the rightful Heir to Winterfell, currently at the cave of the three-eyed raven. Publicly believed dead.
        • His direwolf, Summer, with Bran at the cave.
      • Prince Rickon Stark, their youngest son, last seen traveling to Last Hearth. Publicly believed dead.
        • His direwolf, Shaggydog, accompanying Rickon.
      • Jon Snow, Eddard Stark's bastard son. Serving in the Night's Watch at Castle Black.
        • His direwolf, Ghost, with Jon at the Wall.
  • Lady {Lyanna Stark}, his only daughter, abducted by Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. Died at a tower in Dorne.
  • Benjen Stark, his youngest son, First Ranger to the Night's watch at Castle Black. Lost beyond the Wall.

• 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. Now a captive of Ramsay Bolton, at Winterfell.
• Ser {Rodrik Cassel}, the master-of-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.
• {Luwin}, the castle's maester. Mercy-killed at his own request by Osha.
• {Mordane}, a 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. She died of old age.
  • Hodor, Old Nan's grandson or great-grandson, a simpleton stableboy. With Bran at the cave.
• Osha, a captive wildling working as a servant. Last seen accompanying Rickon to Last Hearth.

Bolton rule

• Lord Roose Bolton, Lord of the Dreadfort, Lord of Winterfell, Warden of the North and Lord Paramount of the North.
  • Lady Walda Bolton, Roose's latest wife. Granddaughter of Lord Walder Frey.
  • Ramsay Bolton, his legitimized natural son, heir to the Dreadfort.
• Reek, formerly Theon Greyjoy, manservant and hostage of Ramsay.

Behind the scenes

For the television series, a variety of locations were used to create Winterfell as it appears on screen. For the pilot episode, 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.

Image gallery

The walls of Winterfell from up-close

Winterfell burning in "Valar Morghulis"

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 worshippers of the Old Gods of the Forest.

Winterfell as depicted in the title sequence after its sacking.

Winterfell as depicted in the title sequence in the first two seasons.

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

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

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.

See also

• Winterfell on A Wiki of Ice and Fire (MAJOR spoilers from the books)

References

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