Lauren Schmidt Hissrich adapted the fantasy novels by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski into an action-packed drama for television known as The Witcher. Currently in its third season, this triumphant Netflix series starts at a slow pace and then falls head first into an intense and dark plot of monster hunting, magical spells, and dangerous quests.
Upon its release in 2019, the inaugural season of the show was applauded for its remarkable convoluted story-telling of the conspiracies and politics that goes on in the fantastical land known as the Continent. With every new chapter of the show, it has only managed to maintain that fast-paced momentum or make it even better for the audiences to marvel at.
Henry Cavill, Freya Allen, and Anya Chalotra in The Witcher Season 3 (Credit: Netflix)
Henry Cavill worked hard to convince the loyal fans of the series that he was destined to play the ashen-haired, brooding, biogenetically altered monster hunter with his amazing performance. Anya Chalotra as Yennefer perfectly portrays both sides of this powerful sorceress to perfection, and Freya Allen as Ciri is believable and beguiling.
Amidst the intense monster-hunting scenes of the battle-hardened Geralt of Rivia and beautifully scary showcases of magic by the sorcerers, the CGI and the set of the show played an important role, and it rightfully delivered on it.
The care given to minute details, right from the fighting sequences to the locations which represented the grandeur of the Continent, everything was seemingly perfect, which set this fantasy show on a way higher pedestal than its competitors.
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The Witcher: Where was season 3 of the show shot?
Apart from the gargantuan climax, which left us all begging for more, the show also left the audience curious about the scenic landmarks at which the diverse landscapes of the fictional world were brought to life.
If you have wondered the same, take a look below to learn about the astonishing spots where The Witcher season 3 could have been filmed.
What is The Witcher about?
Initially based on two short stories by the author, ‘The Last Wish’ and ‘Sword of Destiny,’ The Witcher follows the legends of Geralt of Rivia, the monster hunter and destined protector of Princess Cirilla of Cintra, and Yennefer of Vengerberg.
The chronicle introduces the viewers to these characters at different points in time as they are drawn to each other from their separate paths. Geralt fulfills the role of the absent father figure in Ciri’s life as he shields her from all those after her rare Elder Blood and the power that comes with it.
Roque de Santos Domingo, one of the locations for the shooting of Aretuza in The Witcher Season 3 (Credit: Netflix)
Season 3 finally reunites the main leads as we see them on the run from the monsters, mages, and rulers of the different parts of the Continent.
Adapted from the book ‘The Time of Contempt,’ The Witcher’s third installment shows the viewers the immense growth in Ciri’s powers with the help of Yennefer and the looming threat of her father, whom she is still unaware of.
A guide to The Witcher filming locations
The fantasy world o The Continent, where the tale of the witcher takes place, occurs over many fictional places like Cintra, Nilfgaard, and Aretuza, amongst others. And the director constructs this beautifully crafted imaginary world across the luscious landscapes all over Europe, from Italy and Poland to Slovenia.
Aretuza: The Hogwarts of The Witcher
By now, we all can identify the lone tower surrounded by clashing waves that serve as the academy where young ladies are taught to harness their magic. This Tower of the Gull was created with a little bit of digital alteration on the Roque de Santo Domingo, an islet that faces the northern coast of La Palma island in Spain.
The Hideouts
In the very first episode, Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer’s hideout is shot on Zala Beach on the island of Krk in Croatia. As they move from home to home, escaping Rience and his mercenaries, they take shelter at houses filmed at St. Jerome’s Church in Slovenia and the snow-clad Fusine Lakes in Italy.
Lake Fusine in Italy, one of the shooting locations for The Witcher season 3 (Credit: Netflix)
While on the run, the trio also visits the Belleteyn Festival, which was a medieval fair shot in Jacks Hill Park in the Epping Forest of London. The production also used the Predjama Castle in Slovenia and Trefil Quarry in Wales for a couple of shots.
Nilfgaard and Redania
The North is at war against Nilfgaard, and among the various kingdoms waging war at it, one of them is Redania. While the shooting for the Nilfgaardian Palace was done at the Sibenik Cathedral in Croatia and sometimes at the Guildford Cathedral in Surrey, England, the palace gardens of Redania were borrowed from the Great Fosters Hotel in Egham, London.
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