The Citadel Map Oldtown’s School of Maesters and Its Great Library
Oldtown · Archmaesters · Library · Ravens · Samwell Tarly
The Citadel in Oldtown trains every maester in Westeros and holds the greatest library in the realm. This map shows where it stands, how it is laid out and why it quietly shapes the whole story.
The Citadel is the headquarters of the Order of Maesters, located in Oldtown at the mouth of the Honeywine in the Reach. It trains the maesters who serve every castle, keeps the realm’s greatest library and runs the raven network. Samwell Tarly studies there in Seasons 6 and 7.
The Citadel at a Glance
The essentials at a glance before the full breakdown.
Where is the Citadel?
The Citadel stands in Oldtown, the oldest city in Westeros, on the south-western coast of the Reach. Its halls line both banks of the Honeywine river, close to the Hightower, the great lighthouse-castle of House Hightower.
That position matters. Oldtown is far from King’s Landing and from the wars of the North, which gives the maesters a safe distance from politics while their trained members serve in every castle.
Inside the Citadel
The books and show describe a sprawling complex of halls, towers and courtyards rather than one building.
- The Seneschal’s Court — where novices and visitors are received.
- The library — vaults and stacks holding the oldest records in Westeros, including a restricted section of rare books.
- The Isle of Ravens — the oldest building, home to the white ravens that announce the change of seasons.
- Archmaesters’ halls — each archmaester masters one field and wears a link of its metal.
How maesters earn their chains
A novice becomes a maester by forging a chain, link by link. Each link represents a subject, such as iron for warcraft, silver for medicine, black iron for ravenry and gold for economics. The chain is worn around the neck as a symbol of service.
Once trained, maesters serve lords across the realm, keeping their ravens, books and health. Maester Luwin at Winterfell and Maester Aemon at the Wall are the best-known examples.
Samwell Tarly at the Citadel
Samwell Tarly travels south from the Wall with Gilly, stopping at Horn Hill before reaching Oldtown in Season 6. Working under Archmaester Ebrose, he finds the record that dragonglass lies beneath Dragonstone and later the High Septon’s note of Rhaegar Targaryen’s annulment and marriage to Lyanna Stark, a key clue to Jon Snow’s parentage.
Follow his route on the Samwell Tarly journey map.
Why the Citadel Matters
Ravens
The Citadel’s raven network carries every royal letter, war report and wedding invitation in Westeros.
Knowledge
Its library holds the history needed to fight the Long Night again.
Influence
Grand Maesters sit on the small council, giving the Citadel a voice at the heart of power.
The Citadel: Questions
In Oldtown, on the south-western coast of the Reach, along the Honeywine river.
The headquarters of the Order of Maesters, where maesters are trained and the realm’s greatest library is kept.
Records of dragonglass under Dragonstone and the note of Rhaegar Targaryen’s annulment and marriage to Lyanna Stark.
Links of different metals, each representing a field of study such as medicine, ravenry or warcraft.
The Conclave, a council of archmaesters.
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ThroneAtlas is an independent fan-made atlas and lore reference. It is not affiliated with HBO, Warner Bros. Discovery or George R. R. Martin. Map artwork is original ThroneAtlas illustration.
