Vlindrel Hall is the highest house in Markarth, carved into the cliff behind a big golden Dwemer door. It looks out over the city’s ancient stonework, waterfalls and the mountains of the Reach, and Understone Keep is just along the upper walkway. Base price is 8,000 gold; with every decoration it comes to 12,200 (11,900 with Hearthfire).
How to get it
- Do favours for Jarl Igmund: kill a Forsworn leader at a spot like Bruca’s Leap Redoubt or Red Eagle Redoubt, and recover Hrolfdir’s Shield (level 20 and up).
- Help five people in the Reach to earn Thane of the Reach and housecarl Argis the Bulwark.
- Alternatively, finish Liberation of Skyrim, or trade Markarth’s control during Season Unending.
What you’ll find
- Bedroom (800) – big bed, chest, shelves, display case.
- Living Room (900) – dining table and three large bookshelves.
- Enchanting Area (1,000) – enchanting table, mannequin, plaques and weapon racks.
- Alchemy Lab (1,000) – alchemy table, satchel and stocked shelves.
- Entrance (500) – planters growing ingredients such as Jazbay Grapes.
- Children’s Room (700, Hearthfire) – converts the alchemy lab.
Displays: one mannequin, two weapon plaques, three shield plaques, four weapon racks, four dagger cases and three bookshelves holding 162 books.
Tips
- Bibliophiles rejoice: three big bookshelves side by side, all safe for storage.
- The Thieves Guild fence Endon and several merchants are close by.
- You can fish Dwemer scrap from the city’s waterways – the only in-city fishing spot – and turn it into Dwemer bows for quick Smithing levels.
- Downsides: the forge is across town, there’s only one exit, and the lighting is gloomy even by Markarth standards.
- Converting the alchemy lab to a children’s room wipes the barrels in that room; switching back restores the contents in the mead barrel.
Good to know
It’s the only home with everything on a single level, and its housecarl room is among the fanciest in Skyrim. Adopted boys reportedly aren’t fans of Markarth, and they will let you know.
Details checked against community wiki articles and the Skyrim game files, summarised in our own words.