“Eragon” is a 2006 film based off of the fantasy novel written by Christopher Paolini and directed by Stefen Fangmeier. The fantasy film earned $250.4 million in box office sales on a $100 million dollar budget. The 20th Century Fox movie follows a farm boy in the land of Alagaesia, which is ruled by an evil monarch in seemingly medieval times. Eragon, the main character, finds a dragon egg (who is later named Saphira) which catalyzes the return to glory of his homeland’s Dragon Riders and the possibility of restoring power to the people.
The fantasy world of Alagaesia sets the scene for Eragon’s story to unfold and the varied weather conditions make his journey much more complex. Alagaesia translates to “fertile land” in Paolini’s fictional “Ancient Language” (similar to Norse and Celtic languages) and is home to humans, elves, dwarves, urgals and dragons. This diverse and fantastical type of story demanded a filming location befitting all of these fantasy creatures. Ahead is everything to know about where this adventure fantasy movie was actually filmed and why fans and travelers alike should visit the destinations.
Eragon Filming locations
Hungary
- Key Scenes: Outdoor shots of the woods, castle and cave
- Best Times to Visit: Spring through fall for pleasant weather
- Transportation: From Budapest to Fót Studios is only a 25 minute drive
Hungary was the main country where the film was shot. The opening scenes where Eragon and his uncle are in the forest and he finds the dragon egg were filmed in Budapest. The grandeur castle of Alagaesia’s evil king, which is the setting of the siege, was captured in the Hungarian Fót Studios with CGI and VFX. Tatabánya, Sarvar and Celldomolk are among the other locations in the country that provided beautiful scenery for the film adaptation. Tatabánya, in particular, was the location for cave scenes throughout the film.
While Hungary is a smaller country, it has a thriving tourism industry. The romantic architecture, cosmopolitan capital city and ample amount of thermal baths attract tourists that seek to appreciate the country’s natural beauty and more recently, “Eragon’s” stunning landscapes. Fans can explore the central area of Budapest before experiencing the lush and rural lands that can take them back to the dragon-filled world of Alagaesia.
Things to Do: Visit museums and flea markets or take a tour of central Budapest.
Where to Eat: Borkonyha, a Michelin starred restaurant, is one of the most popular restaurants in Budapest.
Where to Stay: The best tourist area is Belváros, which has great public transportation and hotels, like the Budapest Marriott.
Canada
- Key Scenes: Outdoor shots of dragon flight and forest travel
- Best Times to Visit: From September through November for mild temperatures
- Transportation: By train or car, it is possible to get practically anywhere across Canada
Outdoor scenes for the film, like when Eragon rides Saphira, were captured in Canada. The misty mountains of Canada provided plenty of open space for the team to film outdoor sequences that involved the make-believe dragon that Eragon bonds with. Since much of the plot of the film involves being entrenched in the woods, Canada provided the perfect backdrop with its forests as it is the third most forested country in the world by area.
Canada is a common filming location, so travelers will find movie tours are easily accessible. Because Canada provided spectacular scenery for outdoor shots, visitors and fans can enjoy the beautiful nature and background scenes depicted in the film.
Things to Do: Visit national parks with views of the world of Alagaesia, like Banff National Park.
Where to Eat: Alo, of Toronto, is a highly popular French restaurant that tourists can visit before exploring the natural areas of Canada.
Where to Stay: The Ritz-Carlton of Montréal is a popular hotel which is not even a mile from the city center.
Slovakia
- Key Scenes: Trekking journey
- Best Times to Visit: May, for pleasant and mild weather
- Transportation Options: From the capital city of Bratislava, travelers can take a four hour train to get to the High Tatras the quickest
Filming for the fantasy movie was done in High Tatras, Slovakia. Exterior shots were taken there and added to the story’s traveling quest motif. Slovakia provided a change in scenery and borders Hungary, so it was close in proximity to the other filming location. Aerial shots of the mountainous areas of Slovakia were used for the film’s climax and shots of dragons.
High Tatras in Slovakia is the smallest alpine mountain range in the world. Mount Kriván is the gem of the High Tatras, but the mountain range also has some of the highest peaks in Slovakia. Long distance hikers will enjoy visiting this area around mid June to late October for the best adventure sports experiences.
Things to Do: Travelers can hike, cycle, skii and even bungee jump at High Tatras in Slovakia.
Where to Eat: For visitors up in the mountains there is a High Tatras Cafe as well as other privately owned eateries.
Where to Stay: The Grand Hotel Kempinski High Tatras is a central five star hotel in the mountains that offers a luxury and cozy atmosphere.