Into the Wizarding World: Discovering a Miniature Hogwarts Castle

The magical small scale Hogwarts castle is a captivating miniature replica of the famous Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This enchanting model captures all the intricate details of the iconic castle, but in a smaller, more manageable size. Each tower, turret, and corridor is faithfully recreated in this miniature version, complete with tiny windows, doors, and even moving staircases. The attention to detail in this small-scale model is truly remarkable, and it brings the magic of Hogwarts to life in a whole new way. This magical castle is not only a visually stunning piece, but it also has several interactive features. With the wave of a wand, you can make the castle come alive.

In actuality, Annie and I were very excited to see the history and architecture of London (among other things), and the rest of the Old-World country. However, we didn’t want to bore our kids to death. As they are all big Harry Potter fans (having read all of the books and seen the films), we looked up Harry Potter filming locations and added them to the itinerary. Many of these locations turned out to also be historical architecture, so it worked out well for all of us.

In actuality, Annie and I were very excited to see the history and architecture of London among other things , and the rest of the Old-World country. Before I go too far, I m adding in a sketch which was the base of our Hogwarts color rendering above pointing out some of these architectural elements, as well as other elements still to come.

With the wave of a wand, you can make the castle come alive. The tiny lights inside each window flicker and glow, giving the illusion that the castle is occupied by the wizarding residents. The castle also has a miniature version of the Great Hall, complete with tiny tables and chairs.

The Architecture of Hogwarts Castle

’ve always been fascinated with the architecture of Hogwarts Castle. For those not in the know, “The Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry” is a fictional British school of magic, and is the primary setting in the Harry Potter films. The huge structure is an architectural wonder, even though it was never built, except in scaled down models and theme parks.

Hogwarts Castle was originally imagined by J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books (yes, the books came before the movies), and designed by production designer Stuart Craig and his team. All of them drew inspiration from various locations in Great Britain for the castle interiors and exteriors.

The style of Hogwarts has been called Medieval Gothic, but in actuality it is a mixture of several styles, including Norman Romanesque, Gothic and Gothic Revival.

In this post, I’m going to go over the places that were inspirations for Hogwarts Castle and/or were used as Hogwarts filming locations. The large majority of these I’ve been able to visit. Last summer I went with my wife and our three children to Great Britain, in search of these locations.

In actuality, Annie and I were very excited to see the history and architecture of London (among other things), and the rest of the Old-World country. However, we didn’t want to bore our kids to death. As they are all big Harry Potter fans (having read all of the books and seen the films), we looked up Harry Potter filming locations and added them to the itinerary. Many of these locations turned out to also be historical architecture, so it worked out well for all of us.

‍Durham Cathedral

‍In the Harry Potter world, Hogwarts has existed for over a thousand years, so the designers wanted it to look like it’s been there awhile. There is no greater influence on Hogwarts than the castles and cathedrals in the United Kingdom. Probably the one location which inspired the production team more than any other was Durham Cathedral. The design team mentioned that the cathedral was used as the basis for everything to the right of the viaduct. In fact the twin square towers of Hogwarts are almost an exact replica of this stone structure, except for some added storybook exaggeration, including tall, pointy spires added to the tops.

Durham Cathedral's twin square towers. The Bell Towers at Hogwarts are nearly exact replicas (minus the spires).

The cathedral is regarded as one of the finest examples of Norman Architecture, which is England’s version of the Romanesque style. Major elements of this style include:

• Massive semi-circular arches over windows and doorways
• Arched cloisters (semi-open covered walkways around quadrangles)
• Vaulted ceilings
• Bell towers

Before I go too far, I'm adding in a sketch (which was the base of our Hogwarts color rendering above) pointing out some of these architectural elements, as well as other elements still to come.

I should also mention that the element labeled "Tower" is actually the "Grand Staircase Tower". Something my daughter pointed out to me.

The Romanesque style began in Europe somewhere around the 8th century, and came to England through the Norman nobles and bishops in the 11th century. The Norman style was known to have more massive proportions than the Romanesque in other regions. It developed in the latter part of the 12th century into the Gothic style, where the arches became pointed.

Durham Cathedral, along with Durham Castle, were both built as an intimidating projection of the new Norman king’s (William the Conqueror’s) power. Both the cathedral and castle are strategically located in a defensive position on a high promontory above the City of Durham, in NE England. The River Wear flows almost completely around them.

Durham Cathedral's cloisters, seen here on the first level from the courtyard, were used in several Harry Potter scenes.

Construction began on the Cathedral in 1093 and was completed in 1140. Key components which were later used at Hogwarts Castle include ribbed vaults, pointed arches and flying buttresses. Interestingly, though Durham Cathedral is known largely as a Norman Romanesque design, those features appeared in the new Gothic architecture in Northern France a few decades later (in fact the ribbed vaults at Durham are the earliest on record).

This is most likely because of the Norman stonemasons who built the cathedral, and then passed it along to such structures as Chartres Cathedral in France, which was built from 1194 to 1250. The features were also new structural engineering feats, enabling the buildings to go taller, more elaborate and complicated, and allowing larger windows. Wizard’s magic in those days. ;-)

Durham Cathedral was used as a backdrop for both exterior and interior scenes in the first two Harry Potter films. In the first, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry walks with Hedwig, his white owl, through the cloisters of the cathedral. Ron Weasley also vomited up a slug here in the second film, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The cathedral’s Chapter House was used as Professor McGonagall’s classroom.

The one thing I regret is not seeing Durham Cathedral up close. I'd like to give a big thanks to Les Bessant for allowing me to use his cathedral photos. Though we could clearly see the cathedral from Durham below, we were running late on the way to our kid's broomstick training classes at Alnwick, so we didn't have time to make it up there.

‍Alnwick Castle

‍Alnwick Castle, located about an hour’s drive north of Durham Cathedral, was used as a backdrop where the broomstick flying and Quidditch lessons were filmed, as well as where the Weasley’s flying Ford Anglia crash lands into the Whomping Willow.

The Castle, like Durham Cathedral, was also built following the Norman Conquest. It sits prominently between the River Aln (flowing on the north side of the castle), and a deep ravine to the southeast. Construction began in 1096, though it was largely rebuilt and remodeled throughout the centuries, as several wars played out and the castle passed through many different hands.

The castle seems to have been influenced by Durham’s Cathedral and Castle, starting in the Norman Romanesque style, then adding Gothic elements, and later Gothic Revival. As with the Gothic architecture of other parts of Europe, English Gothic is defined by its pointed arches, vaulted roofs, buttresses, large windows, and spires.

Today, Alnwick Castle still gives classes in Wizardry, including broomstick flying lessons.

Here's my kids after a successful class. Now I don't have to worry about buying cars for them.

If you ever make it to Alnwick, I strongly recommend checking out the Alnwick Treehouse, and making dinner reservations at the Treehouse Restaurant. It's a fun experience for everyone, whether you have kids and/or still have any inner child left in you.

‍Edinburgh

‍I believe no city had more influence on the design of Hogwarts than Edinburgh, Scotland. J.K. Rowling moved here in the midst of writing the first few chapters of what would become Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Sorcerer's Stone in the US).

Edinburgh had a big influence on J.K. Rowling's vision of Hogwarts and other Harry Potter architecture

From the Palace of Holyroodhouse (one of the Queen’s residences), up to Edinburgh Castle, which towers above the town on a rocky promontory, the Old Town of Edinburgh has a magical feel, with exaggerated elements, mainly in the Scottish Baronial style, which incorporates components of the Gothic Revival style.

The Tolbooth Tavern in Edinburgh - We actually drove through the opening on the lower right in a minivan, with inches to spare, in an effort to get to our apartment, not realizing we could have driven there from a normal street.

The Edinburgh Scottish Baronial elements which likely most influenced Rowling, and later the designer of Hogwarts, were the features of Medieval castles and the chateaux (manor houses) of the French Renaissance, and included:

• Towers adorned with small turrets, often pointed
• Crenelated battlements – parapets with rectangular gaps, for firing arrows
• Machicolations - floor openings at the bottom of tower corbels, used to drop stones and other objects on attackers (Ouch)
• Lancet windows - tall, skinny windows with pointed arches at the top
• Finials – decorative features atop towers and spires

Edinburgh Castle towers above the city on the plug of an extinct volcano. Just the sheer presence of it must have been an inspiration to Rowling for the image of Hogwarts. It was built and remodeled in various styles throughout the years. The earliest found settlements go back to at least the early Iron Age. The oldest surviving castle structure is St. Margaret’s Chapel, built in the 12th century.

Edinburgh Castle dominates the skyline above Edinburgh, and provided inspiration for Hogwarts Castle. Here is a drawing of a once proposed addition and restoration of the southwest elevation.

Stirling Castle

‍Stirling Castle in Scotland is another of the castles said to inspire Hogwarts, and like Edinburgh Castle, mainly for its towering location above the landscape. It sits atop Castle Hill, is surrounded by cliffs on three sides, and dates back to at least the early 12th century.

Gloucester Cathedral

‍In the first, second and sixth Harry Potter films, the corridors leading to Gryffindor House were filmed in the cloisters at Gloucester Cathedral. Moaning Myrtle, Nearly Headless Nick, and a woman in a painting asking for a password were seen here. This is also where Harry and Ron hid from a troll.

In a dark scene in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Professor Snape slammed Malfoy against the wall (on the left, just beyond where the man is sitting below), saying, "I swore to protect you. I made the unbreakable vow", as Harry listens in the dark behind one of the columns on the right.

These same cloisters are the earliest examples of fan-vaulting in the world.

Built as an abbey church (and later dissolved by Henry VIII in the Dissolution of the Monasteries), construction began here in 1089 in the Norman Romanesque style. Later additions were in every style of Gothic architecture, and include the largest medieval window in the world.

‍Hendricks Architecture designs mainly custom residences, from small beach houses to luxury waterfront mountain homes, but are always open to designing castles, cathedrals and other structures.

Edinburgh Castle dominates the skyline above Edinburgh, and provided inspiration for Hogwarts Castle. Here is a drawing of a once proposed addition and restoration of the southwest elevation.

You can even arrange the miniaturized characters in the hall, making it feel like the castle is bustling with activity. One of the most impressive features of this miniature Hogwarts castle is the ability to change the weather. With a simple command, you can make it rain, snow, or even summon a thunderstorm. This adds an extra layer of enchantment to the already magical experience. The small scale of this model castle makes it the perfect addition to any Harry Potter fan's collection. It can be displayed on a shelf or desk, serving as a constant reminder of the enchanting world of Hogwarts. In conclusion, the magical small scale Hogwarts castle is a captivating and interactive replica of the famous school. Its attention to detail, interactive features, and ability to bring the magic of Hogwarts to life make it a must-have for any Harry Potter enthusiast..

Reviews for "A World of Enchantment: Unveiling the Secrets of a Miniature Hogwarts Castle"

1. Linda - 2 stars:

I was very disappointed with the magical small-scale Hogwarts castle. The overall design and construction felt cheap and poorly made. The details were not impressive and it looked nothing like the grand castle from the movies. The lights were dull and didn't create the magical atmosphere I was expecting. The interactive features were also very limited, which left me feeling underwhelmed. Overall, I wouldn't recommend purchasing this castle if you're looking for an authentic and magical Hogwarts experience.

2. Mark - 1 star:

I had high hopes for the magical small-scale Hogwarts castle, but it fell far below my expectations. The quality of the castle was subpar, with many parts not fitting correctly and feeling flimsy. The lights were barely visible and the overall design lacked the intricate details that make Hogwarts so iconic. The interactive features were also a letdown, as they were limited and didn't add much to the overall experience. Save your money and look for a better Hogwarts castle model.

3. Sarah - 2 stars:

I was really excited to add the magical small-scale Hogwarts castle to my collection, but it quickly became a disappointment. The construction of the castle felt cheap and fragile. The lights, which were supposed to bring the castle to life, were barely visible and didn't create the magical ambiance I was hoping for. The interactive elements were also lacking, with only a few buttons to press that didn't do much. Overall, this castle didn't live up to the hype and I regretted spending my money on it.

Tiny Universes: The Fascination of a Small Scale Hogwarts Castle