Skyrim Architecture :: College of Winterhold

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. 

    Ah yes!  The College of Winterhold...a beautiful piece of Skyrim architecture.  The building itself looks as if it holds a secret society inside its doors, which in some ways, it truly does.  Before we delve into its architecture, let's briefly discuss the college's history. 

    In the 4E 122, a massive storm in the Sea of Ghosts destroyed most of the city, and yet the college was mysteriously left untouched by the storm.  Since then, many people of Winterhold still blame the mages of the college for causing that storm.  On a side note, papers in the college library are supposed to prove its age, dating back 700 years .  It is also speculated that the college is even older than that, possibly dating back to the Merethic Era.

    The College of Winterhold sits on a massive cliff of ice and rock on the north-east coast of Skyrim.  In the central courtyard sits a statue of the first Arch-Mage of the College, Shalidor.  This courtyard serves as a hub to access the different facilities of the college itself, as seen in the picture below.  (The people that built this planned it very well!)  The exterior windows also offer a great view of the coast, creating surreal vantage points.
 


    There are many hidden tunnels with a prison and storage (known as the Midden) underneath the main building.  I've been in there myself, and let's just say it's slightly creepy.    

    I personally love the layout of the building.  There are many circles implemented into its design with many ways to access the different parts of the structure.  The exterior design itself reminds me of the Gothic architectural style--this castle in Wales is a great example:

    As for the interior, the designers used massive gray stones.  (Not sure exactly what they would be.)  Inside the Hall of the Elements (picture below), there are countless archways and columns that make a beautiful circle design.  (If you didn't notice, I really like using circles in architectural designs.)

    The College of Winterhold is a remarkable piece of architecture, and possibly one of the oldest structures in Skyrim.  Its beautiful archways, towers, and circular designs are impressive, and it's definitely very interesting to study.  As for my explanation of the pictures, I feel like they can explain themselves much better than I can, and with most Skyrim architecture, I believe it is mostly up for interpretation.  Either way, Skyrim is beautiful, and I'll be searching for more structures to cover in the future.

References:

>> The Elder Scrolls Wiki

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