Game of Thrones - Dubrovnik
Being a fan of the hit series A Game of Thrones, I was keen to see where filming had taken place whilst spending a few days in Dubrovnik. I found a walking tour on the internet and booked it before I left home, as I only had one free day when I could do it. I didn't really know what to expect but felt it was worth the risk. The tour began outside the Tourist Information Office - an easy place to find just outside the main gate into the Old Town; my guide was Davor, a wonderful character, a true GOT fan with boundless enthusiasm. He only takes small groups of no more than 10 people and shares his best stories and photographs with them. Anyone who does this tour has got to be a real fan of the show and everyone in my group was full of enthusiasm and willing to be transported into scenes from the show - I hope you enjoy the tour with me.
We entered through the main gate of the Old Town - Pile Gate................
This was where King Joffrey was returning to the Red Keep after sending his sister Marcella away, and an angry mob had gathered, shouting abuse and throwing old food and excrement at him as he walked through the streets.
We walked down the Stradun, the main street of Dubrovnik - home to many a scene from GOT, as well as other films and TV series. At the bottom is the Sponza Palace, the Bell Tower, the Rector's Palace and St Blaise Church with narrow streets leading off in every direction.
The Rectors Palace was used as the Spice King's Palace in Qarth, and Khalessi/Daenerys had to visit him when her dragons had been stolen.
Adjoining this this bay is Dubrovnik's West harbour known as Blackwater Bay, with its short stone dock. Several memorable scenes were filmed here; Shae stood watching Sansa talking to Littlefinger, and various people waved boats off and waited for people returning. There was also the famous Battle of Blackwater Bay in which the Lannister army, commanded by Tyrion defended Kings Landing from King Stannis Baratheon's fleet.
On the far side of this bay, there are quaint houses with doorways built into the rock face leading up to Lovrijenac Fort. This is where the Gold Cloak soldiers ransacked homes looking for the illegitimate offspring of King Robert Baratheon - being ordered to murder them all.
From here we headed up those steep steps to Lovrijenac Fort - known as The Red Keep throughout all the series.
There have been many scenes of meetings held inside this medieval fortress, especially with Cersei and Littlefinger, Bronn and Tyrion as well as others.
It is also where a tournament was held to celebrate Joffrey's Name Day.
The ramparts are impressive, and still give the feeling of being ready for war - they are where many fights and arguments took place.
From the ramparts you can see the cylindrical Bocar Fortress down below - a place for more meetings
In the opposite direction, is Gradac Park, which was the location for the Purple Wedding Feast (although the actual wedding ceremony was filmed in Belfast). There were great celebrations held here before King Joffrey was poisoned. It is also where Sansa fled to after Joffrey's murder.
The view of the whole city was fantastic from high up at the top of the Fortress - you could get such a brilliant picture of the infamous medieval City Walls
Davos showed us how the city looked in the Finale of Series 6, when the Great Sept and everyone inside it was blown up with wild fire. You would never have known it was the same place - see how the Great Sept had been photo shopped in! Afterwards King Tommen jumped to his death from the Red Keep after witnessing what had happened.
The City Walls were also used for many shots, including when Tyrion and Lord Varys were discussing various strategies; it was there that Tommen told his mother to leave for Casterly Rock; it was where the ship was spotted bringing back Marcella's body, and it was where Tyrion, Bronn and Podrick surveyed the damage caused after the Battle of Blackwater.
The end of Season 5 bought us one of the most icon episodes ever - "Mother's Mercy" - Cersei's naked Walk of Shame. After being found guilty of having relations with her brother, she was forced to do a Walk of Atonement - starting at the top of the Jesuit Steps which were the steps of the Great Sept of Baelor. This has got to be one of the most memorable scenes ever. A body-double was used for Cersei, and the scene took 4 days to complete. Many shops and cafes were compensated to remain closed during filming, and hundreds of locals were paid to be extras - lining the streets and shouting abuse.
Shame!
Shame!
Cersei's walk continued through the town, past the Stradun and along Dominik Street, named after the monastery of the same name, she passed the steps of St Sebastian Church which had also been in an earlier series, when Tyrion and Bronn listened to a protester ranting against the Lannisters.
Dominik Street was full of market traders during the Walk of Shame scenes, but it was eerily quiet when I was there very early in the morning. It leads out to over a stone bridge to Ploce Gate, and this is where Cersei, nearing the end of her ordeal, was greeted by Qyburn and Clegane (The Mountain) when she entered the door to the supposed Red Keep.
Further along the medieval defensive walls, you arrive at the highest point - the huge circular Micenta Tower with its Gothic Crown. This was the House of the Undying in Qarth, when Khalessi/Daenerys was searching the walls trying to find a way inside - looking for her stolen dragons. This was not part of the official tour - I did it on my own afterwards.
From here, I was taken down to the harbour and over to the Island of Lokrum.
This was the setting of the City of Qarth - It is where Khalessi/Deanerys mixed with the city's most influential and affluent members, trying to persuade them to take her and her army over the Narrow Sea. Most scenes are set within the cloisters of the old Benedictine Monastery.
Part of the Monastery has now been made into a visitors centre - and a section of this is dedicated to The Game of Thrones. You can even queue up and have your photograph taken sitting upon the Iron Throne.
This room was used for scenes in Khaleesi's bedroom, when she was with Daario Naharis, the commander of the Sellswords - who was completely devoted to his Queen.
Back on the mainland you can visit the Game of Thrones Shop on Boskoveeva Street, selling allsorts of memorabilia associated to the series. You have to make a purchase if you want to take a photograph sitting on their Iron Throne, but if you go in whilst you are on the Walking tour - there is no charge.
www.accessdubrovnik.com
I have also done a blog just on Dubrovnik, there was so much to see there - it has got to be one of the most beautiful, iconic cities in the world.
https://lynnemorley.blogspot.com/2018/08/dubrovnik.html
Lynne
Please check out my other blogs ..............
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