The Witcher Season 3: Unveiling the Mesmerizing Shooting Locations That Brought The Series to Life
Discover the enchanting filming locations of The Witcher Season 3! From the picturesque Ice Lake in Italy to the majestic Nilfgaard Palace in England, immerse yourself in the fantastical world of Thanedd Island, the vibrant Belleteyn Festival, and the serene House By The Lake in Croatia Explore the captivating Seaport in Wales and witness the magic unfold at the renowned Longcross Studios A realm of adventure awaits!
The filming locations for season 3 of The Witcher are expanding the version of the Continent seen in Netflix's adaptation of Andrzej Sapkowski's novels. Alongside beloved characters like Geralt of Rivia, the rich world-building of The Witcher is enhanced by its diverse settings. Geralt's journey takes him to various parts of the fictional Continent, allowing the Netflix series to explore different sets and shooting locations with each season.
Filming for The Witcher season 2 began just before the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a pause in production. When filming resumed, season 2 was primarily shot in the UK, in contrast to the global scale of season 1. Additionally, most scenes were captured inside the Arborfield Film Studios rather than on location. However, this changes with The Witcher season 3, as it returns to the larger scale of season 1. Below are the confirmed shooting locations for The Witcher season 3.
Ice Lake - Laghi di Fusine, Tarvisio, Italy
Filming for The Witcher season 3 commenced on April 4, 2022, as the show's Twitter account unveiled a behind-the-scenes image featuring Henry Cavill, Anya Chalotra, and Freya Allan. Captured at the Laghi di Fusi in Tarvision, Italy, this picture indicates the trio's presence together as the new season commences. Further confirmed by The Witcher season 3's trailers, Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri will embark on a journey to safeguard Ciri, traversing various locations which include the Ice Lake.
Emperor Emhyr’s Nilfgaard Palace - Guildford Cathedral, Guildford, Surrey, England
Thanedd Island - Three Cliffs Bay, Gower, Swansea, Wales
In The Witcher season 2's conclusion, it is revealed that Emperor Emhyr var Emreis of Nilfgaard, commonly known as the White Flame, is Ciri's father. This revelation sets the stage for Emperor Emhyr to play a more prominent role in The Witcher season 3. For the filming of The Witcher season 3, the Guildford Cathedral in Surrey, England was chosen as Emperor Emhyr's palace, serving as the location for both exterior and interior shots. Notably, the Guildford Cathedral was previously utilized in Netflix's The Sandman series to create the Dream Palace. The trailer of The Witcher season 3 features an exterior shot of Emhyr's palace, while the interior of his palace briefly appeared in the finale of The Witcher season 2. It is worth noting that the interior scenes were actually filmed inside a studio.
One of the key locations in The Witcher season 3 is the Thanedd Island, which is home to the renowned Aretuza academy. The upcoming season, based on the Time of Contempt, delves into the world of mages. In contrast to the original Witcher novels, where Aretuza's appearance was limited to Time of Contempt, Netflix's adaptation has showcased Thanedd Island since season 1. However, in both seasons 1 and 2, Aretuza was represented using a combination of computer-generated exterior shots and studio-filmed scenes.
Belleteyn Festival - Strawberry Hill Ponds, London, England
In order to portray Thanedd Island with more authenticity, The Witcher season 3 has chosen the picturesque Three Cliffs Bay in Swansea, Wales. Given the significance of Thanedd in the book that this season covers, expanding the areas beyond Aretuza into an actual location is a logical choice. The recently released trailer for The Witcher season 3 showcases glimpses of Aretuza and Thanedd Island, suggesting that a substantial part of the season will be set in these locations, aligning with the events depicted in Time of Contempt.
The Belleteyn, an iconic festival in The Witcher's universe, made its debut in Sword of Destiny. The highly anticipated third season of The Witcher brings a captivating live-action rendition of the Belleteyn, evident in official BTS images and trailers. Despite its presence in the books' narrative for Geralt and Yennefer, the elaborate set for the Belleteyn festival was meticulously crafted at London's Strawberry Hill Ponds. Offering a glimpse into this mesmerizing location, The Witcher producer, Steve Gaub (@stevegaub), unveiled it in behind-the-scenes footage showcased in the season 3 trailers.
House By The Lake - Stara Baska, Krk Island, Croatia
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In the trailer for The Witcher season 3, we see Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri preparing to relocate after their home is seemingly destroyed by fire. This particular scene was filmed in Stara Baska, situated on Krk Island, Croatia. Almost every group on the Continent, including the Wild Hunt, is actively searching for Cirila of Cintra. Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri have become primary targets for bounty hunters, soldiers from the Northern Kingdoms, and loyalists of Nilfgaard. As a result, the house shown in the trailer, along with their moments of familial bonding, are unlikely to endure for long.
Seaport - Nash Point Lighthouse, Glamorgan Heritage Coast, South Wales
(The house seen in the trailer and their family moments will likely not last.)
In The Witcher season 3, viewers will witness Geralt, Ciri, and Jaskier battling a formidable new sea creature aboard a ship. This intriguing scene is unveiled in the trailer, which is followed by another compelling sequence showcasing Geralt, Ciri, and Jaskier venturing towards a seaport before embarking on their perilous maritime adventure. The filming location for this atmospheric seaport is none other than the breathtaking Nash Point Lighthouse situated in the enchanting Glamorgan Heritage Coast of South Wales.
Longcross Studios, Surrey, England
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Although The Witcher season 3 had more filming done on location compared to the previous season, there were still certain scenes that were shot in a studio. Specifically, Longcross Studios in Surrey, England, served as the main production hub for The Witcher season 3. As a result, any indoor scenes featured in The Witcher season 3 were most likely filmed at Longcross Studios. This includes scenes showcased in the trailers, such as Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer passing by The Rose of Shaerrawaedd statue, Geralt and Ciri fighting on a boat, and the interior of the Aretuza academy. The Aretuza academy will play a significant role in adapting Time of Contempt for The Witcher season 3.
Sources: The Witcher (@witchernetflix), Steve Gaub (@stevegaub)
