It looks like an iconic location in Westeros is no more. It has been confirmed that the Winterfell set that was built for the last few seasons of Game of Thrones has just burned to the ground!
According to the Belfast Telegraph, the Winterfell set near the village of Moneyglass in Northern Ireland was burned on February 1, 2022. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that it was a "controlled burning" and that the nearby village was not in danger. A spokesperson for the fire service also confirmed that they knew about the controlled fire and that those responsible were overseeing the burn.
This is surprising news for fans considering that the Winterfell set was expected to be part of the Game of Thrones Studio tour which just opened in Northern Ireland this weekend. Unfortunately, it looks like people won't get to see the home of the Starks during the tour.
The Game of Thrones Studio tour was opened on Friday, February 4 and was attended by Nathalie Emmanuel, Isaac Hempstead Wright, and Kristian Nairn. The three stars were on hand to "break the chains" instead of cutting the ribbon. The tour includes visits to the Great Hall of Winterfell where Jon Snow was hailed King in the North as well as Daenerys Targaryen's throne in Dragonstone.
The Winterfell set was built during the last few seasons of Game of Thrones and played an important part in the final season. It became the backdrop of the epic battle against the Night King and his White Walker army where several minor characters were killed.
Game of Thrones might be over but fans can expect to see Westeros again later this year. It has already been confirmed that the prequel series House of the Dragon will premiere on HBO in 2022.
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