The fantastic saga of Harry Potter, which has captured the hearts of millions of viewers, transported us to an amazing world of magic and wonder. However, few know that the famous Hogwarts School, the castle that has become a symbol of this cinematic universe, has quite real prototypes. The film crews used several historical sites in the United Kingdom to create this magical location.
Not just Scotland
According to the author J.K. Rowling, Hogwarts is located somewhere in Scotland. However, picturesque locations in England and Scotland were used for filming. In the first film, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, the role of the school was played by Alnwick Castle, a 12th-century castle located in northern England. It's walls can be seen in the scene of the flying lesson.
"This place was perfect for conveying the atmosphere of magic," noted director Chris Columbus.
In The Chamber of Secrets, Alnwick appears on screen again when Harry and Ron arrive at Hogwarts in the enchanted car. Today, this castle is a popular tourist attraction, offering tours and workshops.
North-east England
Another location where filming took place was Durham Cathedral, located in northeast England. It's covered galleries and the chapter house, where Professor McGonagall taught Transfiguration, can be seen on screen. To create an atmosphere of authenticity, the film crew used original medieval artifacts, such as the caretaker Filch's keyring and Professor Minerva McGonagall's antique inkwell. Lacock Abbey, located in Wiltshire, served as the setting for the Potions class. The cauldron from the filming still remains in it's place.
The Forbidden Forest surrounding Hogwarts was represented by Black Park in the suburbs of London
Hagrid's hut was built in the Glencoe valley in Scotland, but it was removed after filming to preserve the view. The corridors of Gloucester Cathedral were also used for filming in The Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
Thus, the Hogwarts we know from the Harry Potter films was created through a combination of several real locations, each contributing it's unique atmosphere to the magical world.
