Winterfell

Winterfell is the capital of the Kingdom of the North and the seat and the ancestral home of the royal House Stark. It is a very large castle located at the center of the North, from where the head of House Stark rules over his or her people. A small godswood is enclosed within the walls. The castle is located alongside the Kingsroad as it makes its way from the Wall to the capital of the Kingdom of the South, King's Landing, more than a thousand miles to the south. It is situated atop hot springs which keep the castle warm even in the worst winters. Winding tombs below the castle contain the remains of Stark kings and lords and record the history of the ancient family. According to Maester Luwin, there are hidden passageways built in the castle so its Lords could escape. The castle has stood for millennia.

During the War of the Three Kings, Winterfell is taken by Theon Greyjoy for Robb Stark, but the castle is put to the torch by Ramsay Snow after Theon is betrayed by his own crew who were secretly working for Ramsay. This burned out the wood portions of the castle, though the core stone structures remained fundamentally intact, as did the enclosed godswood. After the surrender of Moat Cailin, the Bolton army relocated to the ruined castle in order to restore it as the seat of the rulers of the North.

Winterfell remained in the hands of Roose Bolton, who betrayed Robb Stark at the Red Wedding, for a time. It was first contested by Stannis Baratheon at the Battle of Winterfell, but the sickly, tired Baratheon army was defeated. After murdering his father, Ramsay Bolton held onto Winterfell until his defeat at the Battle of the Bastards, at which point the castle was returned to House Stark's ownership. The battle results in heavy damage to Winterfell and its defenders, but ultimately is a victory for the Starks, with Sansa Stark being named the Lady of Winterfell and later Queen of the North.