The Game of Thrones season 8 finale is fast-approaching much to the chagrin of fans everywhere.
However, we’ve had a few burning questions since the show began which we still haven’t conclusively answered: Where is Game of Thrones set and in what year? Do the story lines and costumes match up to historical events? Can we visit the set locations?
Read all you need to know below.
Where is Game Of Thrones set?
Game of Thrones is set in the fantasy land of Westeros.
However, the series is actually filmed in different locations across the world.
Many scenes have been shot in Northern Ireland, ranging from interior scenes shot at the Paint Hall Studios in Belfast and Linen Mill Studios in Banbridge, to Tollymore Forest in Country Down.
While many scenes were shot in Malta during season one, much of the filming moved to Croatia from season two onwards.
Various filming has occurred in Spain too, from Seville to Girona.
Scenes shot north of the wall have been predominantly filmed in Iceland.
How can I see the Game of Thrones locations?
You can go on a tour which takes you across over 20 key Game of Thrones filming locations in Northern Ireland.
Prices begin from £29 per person and can be purchased on the Visit Belfast website.
You can also take various tours in Dubrovnik where you can get acquainted with the fictional town of King’s Landing either by foot or bus.
Tickets for the ‘Total Game of Thrones Experience’ start at around £70 while walking tours start from £53.
Find out more on the dedicated Kings’ Landing Dubrovnik website.
Finally, if you’re ready to brace the cold, you can visit the Icelandic filming locations of Game of Thrones on a full-day guided tour, starting from Reykjavik.
What year is it set in?
In many ways, the show’s backdrop is reminiscent of medieval England with its ever-changing kings and queens complete with their castles and battles.
However, the show is set in its own alternate universe and does not correlate with time as we know it.
Many fans have drawn similarities between Game of Thrones and real historical events such as the Wars of the Roses (1455-1485) and The Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453).
In an interview with The Guardian, author George RR Martin confirmed the books were loosely based on the Wars of the Roses. He said: ‘My model for this was the four-volume history of the Plantagenets that Thomas B Costain wrote in the 50s. It’s old‑fashioned history: he’s not interested in analysing socioeconomic trends or cultural shifts so much as the wars and the assignations and the murders and the plots and the betrayals, all the juicy stuff.’
Sounds about right.
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