The Witcher (2019–) is a fantasy drama series developed by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich for Netflix, based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s book series. The story follows Geralt of Rivia, a mutated monster hunter played by Henry Cavill in the first three seasons and later by Liam Hemsworth, as he moves through the politically unstable world known as the Continent. Alongside him are Yennefer of Vengerberg, a powerful sorceress, and Princess Ciri of Cintra, whose bloodline and abilities make her a target for kingdoms, mages and supernatural forces. The series combines dark fantasy, political conflict, folklore, magic and monster-hunting, while building a world of rival courts, ruined castles, ancient powers and shifting alliances. Although the story is fictional, much of its visual identity comes from real European landscapes, castles, forests and studio-built medieval towns.
The Witcher has been filmed across several countries, with Hungary, the Canary Islands, Poland, Austria, the United Kingdom, Slovenia, Croatia, Italy and Morocco all contributing to the world of the Continent. The first season was based heavily around Hungary, with Mafilm Studios and Origo Studios near Budapest used for major sets such as Blaviken, Cintra interiors and other controlled fantasy locations. Fort Monostor in Komárom and nearby forest areas were used for Cintra exteriors, while the hills around Csákberény were used for battle material. Szentendre Skanzen Village Museum stood in for Yennefer’s early village environment, and Burg Kreuzenstein in Leobendorf, Austria, was used for the exterior of the abandoned castle at Vizima. The Canary Islands provided some of the series’ most dramatic natural landscapes, especially Gran Canaria and La Palma, while Ogrodzieniec Castle in Poland was used for the climactic Battle of Sodden. Season 2 shifted almost entirely to the United Kingdom because of pandemic-era restrictions, with Arborfield Studios becoming the main production base and places such as Bourne Wood, Hodge Close Quarry, Cathedral Cave and Low Force Waterfall used for exterior material. Season 3 widened the map again, adding locations in Slovenia, Croatia, Italy, Wales and Morocco, including Predjama Castle, the Nanos plateau, Krk Island and the Fusine Lakes. Across the series, real fortresses, volcanic islands, forests, quarries, waterfalls, ruins and studio-built towns are combined to create a world that feels broad, old and geographically varied, even when one real location is standing in for an entirely fictional kingdom.
Guildford Cathedral
Guildford Cathedral is best known as a filming location from The Omen. The cathedral has also appeared in productions such as The Sandman and The Witcher.
Ogrodzieniec Castle
Ogrodzieniec Castle has appeared in Janosik (1973–1974), The Knight (1980), The Revenge (2002), The Witcher (2019) and the Australian series Spellbinder (1995).
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