The Game of Thrones television series may be over, but the legend will always live on. And While George R.R. Martin continues to work on the beloved book series, fans of the show can now follow a brand new trail and visitor guide in Northern Ireland that spotlights relevant locations with colourful stained glass windows.
The Glass of Thrones trail guide was announced this week by Tourism Northern Ireland and saw a collection of imposing stained glass windows being unveiled at key locations around central Belfast. Created to coincide with the final season which aired in April and May this year, the colourful windows form a 1.8-mile trail from City Hall to the banks of the River Lagan, through to Titanic Studios where much of the show was filmed.
The guide includes a map highlighting each of the freestanding stained glass windows in a style similar to the opening credits of the show, with compass points that display a lion, dragon, direwolf and stag. Every window is accompanied by text outlining the stories connected to each image, and the guide also shows how the windows themselves were created by local artists.
“The windows have become a firm hit with visitors to Belfast and residents, providing unique opportunities for photos and selfies at some of the city’s most enduring landmarks. We’re delighted that so many visitors have been coming along to see our very own version of ‘dragonglass’. It brings to life the story of Northern Ireland’s unique relationship with the show, and encourages visitors to explore the city in yet another exciting way,” said Judith Webb, Tourism NI’s screen tourism specialist.
The windows depict some of the most dramatic scenes in the saga, including the Red Wedding, the trial by combat between The Viper and The Mountain and the onslaught of the white walkers.
Elio Garcia, who co-wrote The World of Ice and Fire with George RR Martin and is the co-founder of the fansite Westeros.org, recently completed the trail during a visit to Belfast. “There's no other place in the world so intimately and richly connected to Game of Thrones than Belfast. I've visited a number of Game of Thrones exhibitions, shooting locations, and special events over the years, but the Glass of Thrones Trail is something truly unique and worth visiting for anyone who has the pleasure of being in Belfast,” Elio said.
The new Glass of Thrones visitor guide is available from Visit Belfast and visitor information centres across Northern Ireland.
More information is available from the Discover Northern Ireland website.
