Places of The Fellowship of the Ring

The Shire



Home to all hobbits, the Shire is a rural farming community, quiet and peaceful amid the rolling green hills and long, winding rivers. It is here that Frodo Baggins lives with his uncle Bilbo, at the residence known as Bag End, and it is here that the Quest begins when Frodo is visited by Gandalf and urged to destroy the Ring. Frodo leaves in the company of his loyal friend Sam and is soon joined by Merry and Pippin; braving many dangers together, the four hobbits soon reach the town of Bree.

Bree



The small town of Bree is the meeting place of rogues, drunkards, thieves, and bandits alike. Forced to seek refuge here while they wait for Gandalf to appear, Frodo and his company meet the enigmatic "Strider", who quickly becomes their new companion and protector. After a night's stay, Strider leads the four friends eastwards to Rivendell.

Weathertop



Weathertop was once known as Amon Sûl, a lookout post and watchtower, but is now in ruins. Strider and the four hobbits rest briefly here on their journey to Rivendell; Frodo and his friends are attacked by the Nazgûl in the night, and the Ringbearer is stabbed with a Morgul blade--a weapon which inficts on Frodo a deadly curse.

Isengard



The tower of Isengard was once a place of knowledge and wisdom, filled with the books of lore and the study of magic... once. The treachery of Saruman has now transformed Isengard into a citadel, a war fortress swarming with Orcs and Goblins. It is here that Gandalf is captured and held prisoner on the pinnacle of Orthanc; the wise wizard manages to escape with the aid of his friend, Gwahir the Windlord--a giant eagle.

Rivendell



Known by the Elves as Imladris, and also called the Last Homely House, Rivendell was founded by its lord Elrond Peredhil as a refuge for the Elven kindred during the wars in the Second Age. Filled with waterfalls, lush groves, and fountains, it is a place of safety, rest, and powerful healing magic; Frodo's wounds soon disappear and he is ready to depart for the Shire once again. But Elrond has recognized the evil power of the Ring at work, and the Council that follows will draw Frodo into a dangerous Quest with eight other companions.

Moria



After a disastrous attempt to scale the Pass of Caradhras, the Fellowship instead journeys underneath the mountain--through the mines of Moria. In the time of Balin, Gimli's cousin, Moria was a vast stronghold and city of the Dwarven race; since then, it had been devasted by attacks by Goblins and left in ruins, all its inhabitants perished or slain. The Fellowship itself must fight off a sudden ambush by a Goblin horde, with an even uglier and more brutal foe: a cave troll. Forced to retreat from the onslaught of the Goblins, the Fellowship heads for the only escape route left--the bridge of Khazad-dûm.

The Bridge of Khazad-dûm



Pursued by Goblins, the Fellowship gains the bridge only to be confronted by a terrible foe--a Balrog, an ancient fire demon of the depths. Gandalf first leads the others to safety, then faces the Balrog in a fierce battle that ends in both his death and the fire demon's. Bereft of their wise and gentle companion, the remaining eight leave behind the mines of Moria in grief and despair.

Lothlórien



A beautiful and radiant city full of ancient magic, nestled amid the Golden Woods, Lothlórien is a welcome refuge for the Fellowship after the terrors of Moria. They are greeted by the Lord Celeborn and the Lady Galadriel, both wise and noble Elves who are granted the gift of seeing all things. Though they only stay briefly in the most beautiful of Elven cities, before departing by boat on the banks of the Silverlode, the memory of Lothlórien stays in the hearts of the Fellowship forever.

The Argonath



Also known as the Pillars of the Kings, the Argonath are hewn out of white marble in the likeness of two of the great kings of Men, sentinels of the River Anduin. They stand only a few days' journey from Lothlórien.

Emyn Muil



It is on the shores of the Emyn Muil that the Fellowship is sundered, by tragedy and bitter loss; Merry and Pippin are captured by the Urúk-hai and Boromir is slain trying to defend the "little ones". Frodo and Sam are forced to set out on their own to seek the dark land of Mordor, and the remaining members of the Fellowship band together to rescue Merry and Pippin. It is here that The Fellowship of the Ring ends and the second book, The Two Towers, begins.

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