Is Hogwarts Real or CGI?
The Hogwarts Castle that we have come to know and love through the Harry Potter films is a beloved symbol of the wizarding world. But is Hogwarts real or is it all just CGI?
The answer is a bit of both. While the Hogwarts Castle that we see in the films is a combination of CGI, models, and real-life locations, there is no one single castle that is used to represent Hogwarts. Instead, a variety of different castles, cathedrals, and schools from around the UK have been used to create the Hogwarts Castle that we know and love.
For example, the exterior of Hogwarts Castle is actually a combination of two different castles. The first is Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, England, which was used for the exterior shots of Hogwarts in the first two films. The second is Durham Cathedral in Durham, England, which was used for the exterior shots of Hogwarts in the later films.
The interior of Hogwarts Castle is a combination of sets built at Leavesden Studios in Hertfordshire, England, and CGI. The Great Hall, for example, was built as a set at Leavesden Studios, while the Astronomy Tower and the Whomping Willow were created using CGI.
The Hogwarts grounds were also a combination of real-life locations and CGI. The lake, for example, was filmed at Black Park in Buckinghamshire, England, while the Forbidden Forest was created using CGI.
So, while there is no one single castle that is used to represent Hogwarts, the Hogwarts Castle that we know and love is a combination of CGI, models, and real-life locations from around the UK.