Henry Cavill may have laid down his sword, but The Witcher thunders on.
Aussie man mountain Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games) has replaced the one-time Superman as white-haired monster-hunter Geralt of Rivia in season 4, the Netflix show’s hotly-anticipated penultimate run.
Like many fantasy franchises, world-building is crucial to The Witcher with the medieval landmass simply known as the ‘Continent’ setting the stage for much of Geralt’s encounters with supernatural beasties. And for the new season, swathes of forests, castles and royal estates were magicked into the Continent’s mystical realms.
Here’s every filming location used in the latest season of The Witcher.
What is The Witcher season 4 about?
The previous season ended with Geralt, the sorceress Yennefer, and the princess Ciri separated by a raging war and other enemies. As they embark on solo journeys throughout the Continent, they try to reunite again while running into unexpected new allies. This season will mainly adapt the storyline of author Andrzej Sapkowski’s third Witcher novel Baptism of Fire.
Where was The Witcher season 4 filmed?
Over a 140-day shoot, the Netflix series zeroed in on several locations in England, particularly in Surrey, and the northern part of Wales to recreate the war-torn and rugged nature of the Continent.
The England locations of The Witcher season 4
Several outdoor locations in England’s Surrey county were utilised for the show’s panoramic landscapes. For instance, the Bushy Tail forest in the Surrey town of Chertsey was utilised to set up camps for the Northern Army coalition and the army of the Northern Kingdom of Brugge. Meanwhile, Frensham Ponds in Surrey’s Farnham were used to create some river bank campsites.
Other English forests featured in season 4 include Buttersteep Forest in Berkshire doubling for exteriors of the Northern Kingdom of Brugge and a road around Yaruga, the largest river in the North. Some forests of Brugge were also filmed at Puzzlewood, an ancient woodland site at Gloucestershire dating back to the Roman Empire.
Geralt’s dream cottage is Oxenford Farm in Surrey
But away from the military camps and forested paths, England also provides the space for other more sombre settings, including an idyllic cottage that appears in Geralt’s dream. The real-life abode exists at Oxenford Farm in Godalming. Another idyllic homestead used is Gosdenheath Cottage on West Sussex’s Cowdray Estate.
The Hansa’s journey takes in Surrey and Cornwall
Season 4 features a moment that fans of The Witcher novels have been waiting for: the beginning of the Hansa, Geralt’s loyal group of travelling allies. This travelling regiment, which will aid him in his quest, take a route less travelled, with Surrey’s Oxenford Farm and Tudor pile Cotehele Estate in Cornwall both used in the show.
Vicovaro Forest in Cahir’s flashback is Woking Peace Garden, Surrey
Most of the action in season 4 is set in the Northern Kingdoms, but the Southern territories like Cahir’s native Vicovaro also appear in crucial flashbacks. Its forests and caves will feature in Cahir’s memories, even though the disgraced knight has long since fled his homeland. The forest was recreated in the less wild surrounds of Surrey, including Woking’s Peace Garden. The garden’s centrepiece memorial is dedicated to Muslim soldiers who served in the British Indian Army during the World Wars.
Refugee camps were filmed at Waverley Abbey Ruins, Surrey
The Nilfgaardian wars create a political rift between the two kingdoms and displace large populations, with most refugees holed up in camps that were largely set up in the ruins of southern England’s Waverley Abbey. The 11th century abbey was largely destroyed in Henry VIII’s 16th century dissolution of the monasteries.
The military training grounds were shot on Chobham Common, Surrey
The Nilfgaardian Empire’s militaristic might is evident from their training ground, which was filmed on Chobham Common. The scrubby heathland makes it the perfect spot for soldiers to hone their fighting skills.
The beach scenes were filmed at Soar Mill Cove in Devon
The magical academy of Aretuza was destroyed in season 3, but in the new season’s opening episode, a beach nearby appears in flashbacks. The production headed to Devon’s beautiful Soar Mill Cove for this scene. Its secluded location makes it a perfect waypoint for secretive magicians.
Wales locations of The Witcher season 4
While most of this season is filmed in England, Wales also provides crucial, watery locations, including the Swamp of Sorrows and the giant Yaruga River, the largest river of the Northern Kingdoms.
In fact, the Wales shoot proved to be the most eventful. The production crew discovered unexploded ordnance from the 1800s, requiring a bomb disposal unit to perform a controlled explosion before filming could continue.
Swamp of Sorrows is Llyn Padarn in Wales
A treacherous pond of bad omens traversed by Geralt and the Hansa, the Swamp of Sorrows was built on a sound stage. The art department continually redressed the swamp set to make it look as varied and treacherous as possible.
The Welsh lake of Llyn Padarn was used for exterior shots of the swamp. IRL, the glacially-formed lake is a pristine body of water rather than a murky swamp. But with snow-capped mountains overlooking its waters, it’s The Witcher-coded right down to its crystalline depths.
The north shore of the Yaruga river was filmed at Snowdonia’s Dolbardarn Castle
One of Wales’s earliest stone castles, Dolbardarn stands in for a camp on the north shore of the Yaruga River. Its round tower rises to 50 feet on a rocky outcrop overlooking Llyn Padarn lake and the Snowdonian mountains. No wonder it once hosted great landscape painters, including JMW Turner.
Where were the Henry Cavill seasons filmed?
Season 1 took in an array of locations in Hungary, as well as the Canary Islands, Spain, Poland, and Austria. The pandemic restricted season 2 to studios and UK exteriors, while season 3 added Italy, Slovenia, Croatia and Morocco to its British locations.
Who is in The Witcher season 4?
Liam Hemsworth replaces Henry Cavill as the series’s protagonist Geralt. Given his turn as Gale Abernathy in The Hunger Games movies, he’s no stranger to acting in novel adaptations. As for the other leads, Anya Chalotra (Creature Commandos) and Freya Allen (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes) return as Geralt’s displaced companions Yennefer and Ciri.
Among the new characters, a fan favourite joining this season is Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix) as Regis, a street smart surgeon and barber who proves to be a major ally to Geralt. Other new additions to the cast include Sharlto Copley (District 9) as bounty hunter Leo Bonhart and James Purefoy (The Following) as Skellen, a high-ranking spy and court advisor to the Nilfgaardian emperor Emhyr.
When does The Witcher season 4 release?
The new season launches on Netflix worldwide on Thursday, October 30.
Is there a trailer?
There is – watch it below.
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