Calling all Game of Thrones fans.
There’s a brand new Game of Thrones tour that has launched in Belfast – and it sounds absolutely incredible.
The new visitor guide casts a spotlight on the Glass of Thrones Trail in Belfast, a 1.8 mile long trail leading from City Hall to the banks of the River Lagan and all the way to Titanic Studios where much of the hit show was filmed.
Along the trail are a number of imposing glass windows at key locations in the city, with each one coinciding with an episode in the final season of Game of Thrones.
The windows depict the most popular, dramatic and talked-about scenes in the entire Game of Thrones saga – moments that inspired millions of morning-after ‘water cooler conversations’ and sparked fevered debate amongst fans about what twist might come next.
Relive the tragedy and horror of the Red Wedding, the bone crunching trial by combat between The Mountain and the Viper, or the sheer spectacle of The Wall finally crumbling under the onslaught of the army of the dead.
Tourism NI’s colourful new guide includes a map spotlighting each of the six beautifully crafted, freestanding stained glass windows in a style similar to the distinctive opening credits of Game of Thrones, complete with compass points displaying the lion, dragon, direwolf and stag sigils.
Images of each window are accompanied by text outlining the stories associated with each image. The guide also tells the story behind the painstaking, meticulous creation of the windows themselves, by a team of local artists.
“The windows have been in place for a few months now and 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 landmark,” Judith Webb, Tourism NI’s screen tourism specialist, said. “We’re delighted that so many visitors have been coming along to see our very own version of ‘dragonglass’ – it might not be much use against the Night King but it is truly impressive.”
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 Glass of Thrones 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,” said Elio. “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.”
The new Glass of Thrones visitor guide is available from Visit Belfast and visitor information centres across Northern Ireland.
