Where Was Narnia Filmed? Discover the Real-Life Locations in Czechia
Tisa Rocks and Pravčická Gate are two real Czech filming locations from The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Discover what was filmed here and how to visit these places from Prague or Dresden.
The sandstone passages of the Tisa Rocks and the great arch of Pravčická Gate appeared in the 2005 film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. You can explore both places today, in the sandstone country of northern Czechia near the German border.
Want to see both in one day? From April to October, our small-group day trips from Prague and from Dresden combine the Tisa Rocks, Pravčická Gate and the nearby Bastei Bridge. Hotel pickup, a local guide, lunch and entrance fees are included.
Why the filmmakers came to Bohemian Switzerland
The 2005 film, directed by Andrew Adamson and based on the novel by C. S. Lewis, was shot mostly in New Zealand. The problem was snow: New Zealand could not be relied on for the deep, permanent winter the story needed, so the production moved to Europe and to the Czech Republic, where reliable winter snow blankets a landscape of pine forest and bizarre sandstone towers. That landscape is the Bohemian Switzerland National Park, and it did the work no studio set could.
Pravčická Gate — the great stone arch
The most recognisable Czech location is Pravčická Gate, the largest natural sandstone arch in continental Europe. In the film, the children are led to the top of a huge snow-covered arch to look out over the frozen land — that arch is Pravčická Gate. The distant mountains in the shot were added digitally, and the figures on the arch were composited in, because walking on the real arch has been banned since 1980 to protect it from erosion. You see it instead from the viewpoints below and beside it — which is where the film's perspective comes from. Under fresh snow, the resemblance to the screen is uncanny.
Tisa Rocks — the snowy forest maze
The other location is the Tisa Rocks (Tiské stěny), a vast labyrinth of sandstone towers and narrow passages above the village of Tisá. This is where the snowy forest scenes were shot — including the youngest sister's first walk into the winter wood. The maze of alleys, gates and hidden squares needed almost no set dressing — in winter, dusted with snow, it looks like a scene lifted straight from the film. Tisa Rocks can be visited year-round. When snow arrives, the sandstone passages take on the winter atmosphere familiar from the film.
Visit the real Narnia locations
Explore the Tisa Rocks and Pravčická Gate in one day, with hotel pickup, a local guide, lunch and entrance fees included. Choose your departure city.
What about the Bastei Bridge?
A common assumption is that the nearby Bastei Bridge, on the German side of the region, also appears in the film. It does not — Bastei was not a filming location. It belongs to the same sandstone landscape and is often visited on the same day, but if you are chasing the actual on-screen places, the genuine ones are Pravčická Gate and the Tisa Rocks.
Other Czech Narnia locations
Beyond Bohemian Switzerland, the production used two more Czech sites. The icy wastes were filmed further east, in the Adršpach-Teplice Rocks near the Polish border — a separate region, a couple of hours away. The interiors and smaller sets were built at Barrandov Studios in Prague, one of Europe's oldest film studios. Neither is part of the Bohemian Switzerland landscape, but both belong to the film's Czech story.
Winter or summer?
Winter gives you the authentic look: snow on the towers and the frozen-forest atmosphere the film was made for. In winter the rock steps and ladders at the Tisa Rocks can ice over, so sure footing matters — on our winter tours we hand out ice grips so the walking stays safe and comfortable. Summer is greener and easier underfoot. There is no wrong answer; it depends on whether you want the film's winter or an easier walk.
Pravčická Gate has limited winter opening days, so independent visitors should check the current opening times before travelling. Our winter tours follow a different itinerary — the Tisa Rocks and the Bastei Bridge, without Pravčická Gate. With shorter daylight and cold weather, we focus on enjoying these two places at a comfortable pace, with time for a warm Czech lunch, rather than rushing through three stops. These winter day trips run from Prague and from Dresden. Snow, of course, depends on the weather.
Good to know: Do not expect "Narnia" signs or a museum — these are natural sites, not a film attraction. The draw is standing in the real landscape, especially under snow.
Seeing both locations in one day
Pravčická Gate and the Tisa Rocks sit on opposite edges of the region, with separate access points and their own parking, so visiting both independently means a fair amount of driving and logistics. A guided day trip folds them into one route. From April to October our guided day trip combines both filming locations in a single day — from Dresden or from Prague — with hotel pickup, the driving and parking handled, and a local guide who knows where the on-screen views actually are. See all our day trips from Dresden to Saxon Switzerland. In winter, when the snowy atmosphere peaks, the Tisa Rocks remain the highlight and are visited year-round.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was Narnia filmed in the Czech Republic?+
The main Czech locations are the Tisa Rocks (snowy forest scenes) and Pravčická Gate (the great stone arch scene), both in the Bohemian Switzerland National Park. The icy wastes were filmed in the Adršpach-Teplice Rocks near the Polish border, and the interiors at Barrandov Studios in Prague.
Was The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe filmed at Pravčická Gate?+
Yes. The large snow-covered arch where the children look out over the frozen land is Pravčická Gate. The distant mountains were added digitally and the figures were composited in — walking on the arch itself has been banned since 1980.
Was Narnia filmed at the Tisa Rocks?+
Yes. The sandstone labyrinth of the Tisa Rocks, above the village of Tisá, was used for the snowy forest scenes, including the youngest sister's first walk into the winter wood.
Was the Bastei Bridge a Narnia filming location?+
No. This is a common misconception — Bastei does not appear in the film. It is on the German side of the same sandstone landscape and is often visited on the same day, but the real filming locations are Pravčická Gate and the Tisa Rocks.
Can you visit the Narnia filming locations?+
Yes. The Tisa Rocks are open year-round; Pravčická Gate has limited winter opening days, so check its opening times before an independent visit. Our April–October day trips combine both filming locations and the Bastei Bridge, from Dresden or Prague. In winter (November–March) our trips cover the Tisa Rocks and Bastei at a comfortable pace.
Is it better to visit in winter or summer?+
Winter gives the authentic snowy look from the film, but the trails ice over, so our winter trips keep to two stops — the Tisa Rocks and Bastei — at a comfortable pace. Summer is easier underfoot and adds Pravčická Gate, which has only limited winter opening days. It depends on whether you want the film's winter or an easier walk.
Visit the real Narnia locations
Explore the Tisa Rocks and Pravčická Gate in one day, with hotel pickup, a local guide, lunch and entrance fees included. Choose your departure city.