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Unbelievable Castles From Game of Thrones You Can Visit in Real Life

April 14, 2019
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4 min read
The Almodóvar Del Rio Castle and panoramic surrounds, Andalusia, Spain
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The Lannisters, Starks and Tyrells live in remarkable castles that only seem possible in the magical, medieval realm of the Seven Kingdoms. But to bring these ancestral seats of the great Houses Westeros to life, the production crew of "Game of Thrones" located spectacular palaces and fortresses around the real world for the show.

Though the show filmed all over Europe, including Northern Ireland, Iceland and Croatia, many of the most striking castles featured in the hit HBO series can be found in Spain.

Here are five castles from the hit HBO series you can visit to live out your "Game of Thrones" fantasies.

1. Castle Ward in Northern Ireland

Castle Ward, better known as Winterfell, is located near the village of Strangford in County Down in Northern Ireland. This 1,000-acre estate that doubles as the House Stark’s ancestral home is a National Trust property and has been in the Ward family since 1570. There’s even a tour you can sign up for so you can get more insight about what scenes for the show were filmed here.

Castle Ward, Northern Ireland
The tower house and courtyard at Castle Ward in Strangford, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Joaquin Ossorio Castillo / Getty Images)

2. The Castle of Zafra in Spain

Known as the Tower of Joy in "Game of Thrones," this castle is featured in a crucial scene about the parentage of Jon Snow. Bran Stark sees his father, Ned Stark, as he fights his way into the tower to rescue his sister, Lyanna Stark, and makes a promise to her. Later in Season Six, we find out he promises to protect the identity of her son, Jon Snow, heir to the Iron Throne. In real life, this location is a 12th-century castle in Guadalajara near the little village of Campillo de Dueñas. It’s also an excavation site where remains from the Celtiberians, Romans and the Visigoths have been uncovered.

(Photo by mtrommer / Getty Images)

3. Castell de Santa Florentina in Spain

Better known as Horn Hill, the ancestral home of The House Tarly, Castell de Santa Florentina is located right outside Barcelona, Spain. It’s where Sam brings Gilly home to meet his family and later flees with Oathkeeper (a Valyrian steel sword) on his way to Citadel. Dating from the 11th-century, this impressive castle was built on the foundations of an ancient Roman Domus.

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(Photo courtesy of Castell de Santa Florentina)

4. Castillo de Trujillo in Spain

The often talked about — but never seen — Casterly Rock didn’t really show up in the show until Season Seven. But it did play in a prominent scene in the show when the Unsullied army invaded the Lannister home. In real life, it’s known as Trujillo Castle, and it's located at the highest point in the town of Cáreres, Spain. The Moorish fortress was built over the old remains of an old Muslim citadel between the 9th and 12th centuries.

El Castillo de Trujillo. (Photo by C. Aranega / Getty Images)

5. Castillo Almodóvar in Spain

The home of House Tyrell, Highgarden, is really Castillo Almodóvar in the province of Córdoba. Although it's mentioned many times throughout the series, Highgarden didn’t appear until Season Seven when Jaime Lannister invaded the Tyrells' home. Matriarch Olenna Tyrell confesses her role in the Purple Wedding right before her death in this castle as well. Before it starred in "Game of Thrones," this beautiful castle was a Roman fortress dating back to the 8th century. It's now a prime tourist spot for fans who might want to play out their ”Queen of Thrones” fantasy.

(Photo by Lars Stuifbergen / Unsplash)
Featured image by Getty Images

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

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  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.