23 Aug Best Preserved Medieval Towns and Cities for Game of Thrones Fans
Best Preserved Medieval Towns, Cities, and More for Game of Thrones Fans
The Game of Thrones sets are great places to learn how your favorite show is made, but what if you want to feel like a character in the world of Game of Thrones, rather than an actor or onlooker? Even though the show is fictional, it takes many cues from real medieval history. We think the best way to get the real GoT experience is to visit the best preserved medieval towns, cities, pubs, wineries, and festivals. Not sure where to find medieval places to visit? We’re here to help!
Our Recommendations:
Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh is definitely one of the best preserved medieval towns. It contains buildings of great historical significance, including Knox House. Knox House is very interesting because at different points in time, it was occupied by an ardent supporter of Queen Mary of Scots and by one of her fiercest critics. James Mosman was the Queen’s goldsmith and was eventually executed for counterfeiting coins for her supporters, while, as a radical protestant minister, John Knox couldn’t stand Queen Mary for her Catholicism.
Enjoy the decorated stone exterior and furnished interior. Stay at the Kilconquhar Castle Estate and Country Club to experience living in a castle, albeit one that was built after the medieval period with modern luxuries. Walk the estate garden arm‐in‐arm with a friend, like Margaery Tyrell and Sansa Stark in King’s Landing.
Tuscany, Italy
Sip fine red wine like Cersei Lannister at the Cantina Gattavecchi, a winery and wine cellar that used to belong to a medieval convent in the 12th century. From the cantina, you can get very nice views of the Tuscan countryside. If you want to see an entire city at once, however, visit San Gimignano 1300, a medieval museum with a ceramic model of the entire city of San Gimignano in the year 1300. The San Gimignano 1300 gift shop offers one‐of‐a‐kind ceramics made using medieval techniques. This is one of those medieval places to visit you don’t want to miss.
London, England
London, England was the home of the infamous medieval King Henry VIII and the birthplace of the English Reformation. If you want to imagine yourself in Ned Stark’s shoes, contemplating an uncertain future in the dungeons of King’s Landing, visit the Tower of London, where medieval perpetrators against the crown (or those thought to be perpetrators by those in power) were imprisoned and sometimes tortured and/or executed. This is where Queens Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, two of King Henry VIII’s wives, met their unfortunate ends.
While it’s certainly a morbid destination, its historical significance is immense, and its tragic stories are compelling. Stay at Hever Golf and Country Club Hotel and Holiday Owners Club, which is very close to Hever Castle, Queen Anne Boleyn’s childhood home.
Alicante, Spain
Alicante is a strong contender when it comes to best preserved medieval towns due to its magnificent castle, Castillo de Santa Barbara. The impressive fortification was built in the 10th century and still sits atop Benacantil Mountain, albeit with some reconstruction. From the castle, it’s possible to get fantastic views of the city below, and, of course, let your hair blow in the wind and watch for your dragons, like Daenerys Targaryen. While you’re in Alicante, also attend the medieval festival in Elche, where you can view medieval theatre and concert performances. You can stay close to another castle, in Denia, at the Onagrup Club Ogisaka Garden, which also offers horseback riding and museums nearby.
Nottingham, England
Nottingham, of the medieval legend of Robin Hood, is home to an inn and pub called Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, which was built in 1189 AD. The caves it rests on are even older, and they are vast, leading all the way to the center of Nottingham and to Nottingham Castle. Some of the caves make up Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem’s cellar, where the pub’s beer is stored. The inn claims to be the oldest in England, making Nottingham one of the best preserved medieval towns. You’re sure to feel like you’ve gone back in time when you sit down for a pint like Sandor Clegane or Arya Stark.
Feel Like a Royal in the Resort of Your Dreams
Despite the many centuries between medieval times and today, authentic medieval sites still flourish, as we’ve demonstrated. Some of the best preserved medieval towns are awaiting your exploration. We hope you’re as excited about these medieval places to visit as we are!
If so, ResortRentals.com wants to make sure you find ideal accommodations. Feel free to look through our resort inventory filled with resorts ready to give you the royal treatment.
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