Explore the real-world places that appear in A Court of Thorns and Roses. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include The Night Court / Velaris, Under the Mountain, The Spring Court, The Summer Court, The Autumn Court and 10 more.
The hidden City of Starlight, seat of power for the Night Court
Feyre is brought to Velaris after the events at Calanmai. Here, Rhysand reveals the true nature of the Night Court and the resistance against Hybern. Feyre trains with the Shadowsinger Azriel and the Spymaster Cassian within the hidden city, protected by powerful glamours from the outside world. Rhysand's townhouse becomes the center of operations for the war effort.
Velaris was created thousands of years ago as a sanctuary by the High Lord of the Night Court, hidden behind magical shields that prevent it from being discovered. The city exists in eternal twilight, blessed by the starlight itself. It is said that those pure of heart are drawn to its beauty and magic.
Velaris represents hope, sanctuary, and the power of chosen family. For Feyre, it becomes home and a place of true acceptance, away from the darkness of Under the Mountain. The city embodies the Night Court's role as protector and the center of resistance against tyranny.
The fortress prison of the High Lord of the Spring Court
Feyre is brought here as punishment for killing wolves in the Autumn Court. She is imprisoned and forced to compete in deadly trials by Amarantha to save her people. In the final trial, she confronts Tamlin and discovers his weakness. Rhysand uses a bargain to save Feyre's life after she breaks the curse.
Under the Mountain has served as the seat of power for the Spring Court High Lord for centuries, a great fortress carved from living stone. Amarantha placed a curse on the mountain itself, binding the Spring Court's power and trapping the High Lord in a beast-like form. It is built upon ancient magic that runs deep within Prythian's bones.
Under the Mountain is the crucible where Feyre's transformation begins. Her trials there break her and reshape her, introducing her to Rhysand and forcing her to confront the nature of magic and sacrifice. The mountain represents the threshold between her mortal life and immortal destiny.
Realm of growth, rebirth, and the flowering lands
After breaking the curse, Tamlin becomes High Lord of the Spring Court but struggles with his newfound power and trauma. Feyre and the Night Court's forces defend the Spring Court against Hybern's armies. Tamlin's court becomes a sanctuary for refugees fleeing the war.
The Spring Court is the most fertile and beautiful of the Faerie realms, where flowers bloom eternal and the land responds to the High Lord's emotions. It was once ruled with wisdom and grace, but the curse's weight corrupted it. The court is tied to cycles of rebirth and renewal.
The Spring Court represents potential for healing and redemption. Tamlin's struggle with lordship and trauma parallels Prythian's own need for restoration after the curse. For Feyre, it remains a place of painful memories but also of hope that broken things can be remade.
Kingdom of warmth, abundance, and golden shores
Tarquin, the young High Lord of the Summer Court, becomes an ally to the Night Court during the war against Hybern. His coastal territories provide strategic advantage, and his naval forces help defend Prythian's waters. Feyre meets him at diplomatic gatherings where she learns about the fragile alliances between courts.
The Summer Court is blessed with eternal warmth and fertility, its shores kissed by perpetual sun. It is a realm of abundance and pleasure, where the seas teem with life and the golden sands stretch endlessly. The court values joy, partnership, and the harmony of land and sea.
The Summer Court's alliance is crucial to defeating Hybern and maintaining peace. Tarquin's youthful idealism contrasts with the darker politics of the other courts, showing that unity is possible. The court symbolizes what Prythian can become when its realms work together.
Lands of harvest, wisdom, and ancient power
Feyre encounters the Autumn Court when she kills wolves in their territory at the beginning of her journey. The High Lord of the Autumn Court demands blood price. Later, the court becomes involved in the alliance against Hybern, though with reservation and political maneuvering.
The Autumn Court is rich with ancient forests and is governed by the cycles of harvest and rest. Its High Lord has deep connections to the old magic of the earth. The court values strength, cunning, and the wisdom that comes with age and tradition.
The Autumn Court's early conflict with Feyre sets her on her path to Under the Mountain. Their later alliance shows how even ancient enemies must unite against greater threats. The court represents the consequences of one's actions and the possibility of redemption through honor.
Frozen realm of ice, endurance, and eternal winter
The Winter Court remains somewhat isolated during the events of the books, its High Lord preferring neutrality in the conflicts between other courts. The harsh, unforgiving landscape breeds warriors and those of extraordinary resilience. Trade with the Winter Court becomes important as the Night Court seeks allies.
The Winter Court is a land of snow and ice that never melts, where the people have adapted to eternal winter through magic and strength. It is said the court was born from a High Lord's grief that froze their heart and their realm. The ice is both beautiful and merciless.
The Winter Court represents the cost of isolation and the dangers of withdrawing from greater Prythian conflicts. Its eventual involvement in the alliance emphasizes that even the most distant and cold-hearted must sometimes stand together. The court embodies resilience and the strength found in harsh conditions.
Realm of light, hope, and new beginnings
The Dawn Court is governed by Thesan, a High Lord who aligns with the Night Court against Hybern. Feyre and her allies work with the Dawn Court's forces to coordinate military strategy. The court's position on the eastern coast makes it valuable for naval defense and reconnaissance.
The Dawn Court is blessed with eternal light and is a realm of hope and beauty. Its High Lord is known for wisdom and the ability to see clearly in darkness. The court is tied to cycles of light and rebirth, where each dawn brings new possibilities.
The Dawn Court represents the light that must shine against darkness, and Thesan's loyalty shows that even rulers with much to lose will fight for what is right. For Feyre, the court symbolizes the hope that daybreak brings after long night, and that new beginnings are possible even after terrible loss.
Realm of twilight, shadows, and ancient mysteries
The Dusk Court is mentioned as being ruled by a High Lord who maintains the delicate balance between the day and night courts. During the war, the Dusk Court's position becomes strategically important as a neutral buffer. Feyre learns that the court's High Lord has close ties to the Night Court through ancient agreements.
The Dusk Court exists in the eternal twilight between day and night, a realm of mystery and magic that defies categorization. It is ruled by those who understand balance and the power of liminal spaces. The court's magic draws from both light and darkness in equal measure.
The Dusk Court represents the balance between extremes and the power of existing between categories. Its positioning between other courts symbolizes the need for diplomatic nuance in Prythian politics. For Feyre, the court offers lessons in the value of neutrality when necessary and alliance when required.
The underground stronghold of the Night Court beneath the mountains
Hewn City is the ancient underground capital beneath the Spine of Prythian, hidden from mortal eyes for millennia. Feyre is brought there by Rhysand and confronts the darker, more rigid traditions of Night Court society. Here she meets Morrigan's family and witnesses the political intrigues that exist beneath Velaris's beauty. The city's dark lords and their power structures initially intimidate and overwhelm Feyre.
Hewn City was carved from living stone by the ancient High Lords of Night, built deep beneath the mountains where the oldest magic of Prythian flows. It is said to be older than Velaris and holds the true seat of the Night Court's power. The city is built on magic that binds the very earth itself.
Hewn City represents the hidden depth and complexity of the Night Court, and the power that exists beyond beauty and starlight. For Feyre, it is a test of her ability to navigate political treachery and embrace the darkness within herself. The city shows that true strength lies not in avoiding darkness but in mastering it.
The human realm beyond the wall, home to mortals and magic-less peoples
Feyre is born in the Mortal Lands and hunted as a young woman to feed her family. She crosses into Prythian when she kills a faerie wolf, beginning her journey. Her mother and father originate from these lands, and her sister Nesta becomes High Lady of the Night Court after the war. Hybern's human servants come from these lands, working as spies and soldiers.
The Mortal Lands are separated from Prythian by a magical wall and exist in a realm where faerie magic does not naturally flow. These lands are ancient and hold their own history and magic, though diminished compared to the faerie realms. It is said that the wall was built to protect humans from faerie predation.
The Mortal Lands represent Feyre's origin and connection to her humanity, a heritage she struggles to reconcile with her transformation into a faerie. The lands show that power and magic are not everything, and that ordinary humans can possess courage and strength. Feyre's bridge between worlds makes her unique and crucial to the story.
Sacred site where the Calanmai celebration of fertility and power takes place
The Calanmai festival is celebrated in a sacred glade deep within the Night Court territories. Feyre witnesses the raw power and sexuality of the faerie celebration for the first time. Rhysand's presence at the festival reveals his care for her, as he shields her from the more intense aspects of the celebration. The festival becomes a turning point in Feyre and Rhysand's relationship.
Calanmai is an ancient celebration of fertility, magic, and the renewal of life force. It is tied to the spring equinox and the height of faerie power. Those who participate are said to emerge stronger, more vital, and more deeply connected to their magic and their partners.
Calanmai represents the sensual and powerful aspects of faerie nature that Feyre must learn to embrace as she becomes immortal. The festival shows the difference between mortal and faerie celebrations of life and power. For Feyre, it marks a moment of transformation and growing understanding of what it means to be faerie.
Coastal fortress of the Summer Court High Lord
Tarquin hosts Feyre and the Night Court delegation at his beautiful palace overlooking the summer seas. Here, political alliances are forged and broken through intricate diplomacy. The palace serves as a location for tense negotiations between courts regarding the war against Hybern and the distribution of power after the curse is broken.
The Summer Palace is built of marble and gold, with open courtyards that face the eternal summer sun. It is a place of beauty and comfort, designed to showcase the plenty and peace of the Summer Court. The palace has stood for thousands of years, a symbol of the court's stability.
The Summer Palace represents the possibility of peace and beauty in a world at war. Tarquin's rule shows that youth and idealism can lead a court, though sometimes through painful lessons. For Feyre, it is a place where she learns that not all faeries are enemies and that building alliances requires vulnerability.
The sprawling outer settlements and defensive positions of the Night Court
Feyre is taken to the outer territories of the Night Court in her initial capture by Rhysand. The outer city includes military strongholds and settlements of Night Court faeries. Here she encounters Morrigan and the different strata of Night Court society. The outer city is also where battles are fought and strategic positions are held against Hybern's armies.
The outer city of the Night Court exists in the regions surrounding Velaris and Hewn City, a vast network of settlements and strongholds. It is where the majority of the Night Court's population lives and works, supporting the hidden cities through agriculture and military service. These lands are cloaked in shadow and magic.
The outer city represents the broader scope of the Night Court beyond the beauty of Velaris, showing the reality of living under faerie rule. For Feyre, it demonstrates that she must understand and command not just one city but an entire realm. The outer territories are crucial to her transformation from hostage to leader.
Neutral trading grounds and disputed territories between courts
The Middle Kingdom serves as contested ground where the various courts meet for trade and negotiation. Feyre travels through these lands on her way to various court meetings and conferences. Battles over control of the Middle Kingdom resources are significant in the war against Hybern, as whoever controls these lands controls trade and supplies.
The Middle Kingdom is said to be the oldest territory in Prythian, neutral ground established by the first High Lords themselves. It is a place where magic flows differently, neither favoring nor opposing any particular court. Ancient treaties protect it from being fully conquered by any single power.
The Middle Kingdom represents the contested nature of power in Prythian and the delicate balance required to maintain peace. For Feyre, learning to navigate the politics of neutral territory is crucial to her development as a leader. The kingdom symbolizes the possibility of compromise and shared governance.
The magical barrier separating Prythian from the Mortal Lands
The Wall is where Feyre crosses from the Mortal Lands into Prythian at the beginning of her journey. Hybern later breaches the Wall as part of his campaign to conquer both realms. The Wall's destruction is a turning point in the war, forcing humans and faeries to truly acknowledge that they share a world. Feyre is present when the Wall falls and witnesses the catastrophic consequences.
The Wall was built in ancient times to separate the realms of faerie and human, created by the greatest magic of the age. It has stood for millennia, an impenetrable barrier that protected both worlds from each other's influence. Some say the Wall is sentient and judges those who attempt to cross it.
The Wall represents the boundary between Feyre's old life and new one, and its destruction symbolizes that she can never return to her former existence. The Wall's fall forces all of Prythian to confront the reality that separation is no longer possible and that cooperation is necessary for survival. For the story, it marks the escalation of conflict and the true beginning of all-out war.