Welcome to the next installment of my Skyrim Architecture series, where I scout the Skyrim world in search of the most beautiful structures and landmarks Bethesda's award-winning franchise has to offer.
Riften is a very unique city. It sits in the southeastern corner of Skyrim, and is home to the Thieves' Guild, Goldenglow Estate, Mistveil Keep, and the Black Briar Meadery. The city also sits along the banks of Lake Honrich and is famous for its massive fishing dock and meadery. Its architecture is different from all other cities. There are many log houses or shops in the city, which I think is because of the birch tree forest that lies around Riften.
Like all Skryim cities, they have iconic figures that stand out as major landmarks and sight-seeing spots. Mistveil keep is one of them. It is where the Jarl or "king" sits for the Rift Hold, which is part of the 9 "states" of Skryim, and each state has a Jarl and capital city. This keep is actually fairly new. "In the 2nd century of the 4th Era-around 4E138, Riften was destroyed. Thus, Mistveil Keep is likely not more than 70 or 80 years old--(thanks to Sebastian Beaghen for the great info!)". It has a staircase up to the front entrance with the banners of Riften on either side.
This is a piece of concept art I found on the Elder Scrolls Wiki. It features the "Plankside" of Riften, which is one of the so called "districts." The Plankside sits where the canal is. The wooden planks that go around the canal lead either into the entrance of the dark and sewer-like Ratway, or up into the city. Plankside is a very dark and desolate place that has only trouble in it. Although its architecture is very simple, this picture above is breathtaking and makes it look very intricate.
The Goldenglow Estate is a great example of what most of the Riften houses and shops look like: log cabins with a "cobblestone" type roof. Goldenglow is a bee farm outside Riften, which owned by a very wealthy character.
Riften is also very "gloomy" looking most of the time. Fog often rolls in from the mountains down into the valley. Bethesda always ceases to amaze me!
Another exceptionally designed piece of Riften is its market. It was designed in a round-a-bout fashion and is set in the center of the city. With the mountains in the background, big birch trees, and majestic log cabins, Riften is another beautiful city that lives and breathes in the great province of Skyrim.
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>> This might be the end of my Skyrim Architecture series, but I still will be searching for amazing buildings and structures in Skyrim that offer some great masterpieces.
Thanks for these 6 posts about Skyrim (was it only six... or maybe I just didn't find all of them...)
ReplyDeleteHowever, I'm looking for the ancient architecture (like Medieval, Mayan, Aztec, Inca, Egyptian, Roman, Greek, Persian). I find these interesting, but the main reason for seeking is my job: I'm planning/writing a book.
Before watching this blog I didn't understand that I could find and study such architecture (Medieval, Nordic, I'm from Finland) in Skyrim. Or maybe I did, but now I understand much better how to "analyze" what I see while playing this game.
So thanks again =)
Hey thanks for the feedback, and I agree that Medieval and Nordic architecture (especially nordic) is hard to study. Skyrim has a good blend of both and it's astonishing how in-depth Bethesda goes with making their games. It's truly a work of art. Good luck on your book! :-)
Delete-Zach
Hey. I enjoyed the post but just wanted to point out that as Riften was destroyed in an uprising in the mid 2nd century of 4th Era- around 4E138 - thus Mistveil keep is likely not more than 70 or 80 years old.
ReplyDeleteHaha, I never knew that before you mentioned it. I'll change the "looks very old" part. :D
DeleteHello Zach i'm french and i found your blog searching Skyrim cities architecture analysis on google.
ReplyDeleteMost people playing Skyrim don't pay attention to developper's work when it comes to architecture, but not me, i'm found of it and very sensitive to the ambient in every places you can visit.
For me, Riften is the best city of Skyrim, because it's the only one to have different atmospheres depending on the weather.
When it's sunny, it's a very peaceful and sweet town (wooden houses, indian summer colours and "honey" references) and when it's misty the city radically changes, turning into a very mysterious place where everything can happen.
Houses architecture, a perfect melting of cobblestone and wood as you say, fits perfectly with both atmospheres, and it's something you cannot find in other cities.
Plankside and the fishing dock of Riften remind me of Bruges or Amsterdam slums, and especially the ambient Jacques Brel described in the song "dans le port d'Amsterdam" while the Ratway reminds me of Paris or London sewers.
I immediately felt in love with Riften when i came for the first time by the lake through the fog, i was like "oh my god this is exactly how a elder scrolls city must be like" mysterious, gloomy (on the right way) and warm at the same time.
Riften is not as "majestic" or impressive as Solitude, Whiterun or Markarth at fist sight, but it has something more than the other cities, charm and soul.
Great incite! I totally agree on all of your points. Riften is a masterpiece. Bethesda did an outstanding job designing it and making the atmosphere of the city very unique compared to the rest of Skyrim.
DeleteLovelly blog you have here
ReplyDeleteFirst time reading much appreciate it
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