Markarth

Markarth is the capital of The Reach, and it looks like nowhere else in Skyrim. The city is carved directly into the cliffs of a mountain gorge, built on the stone foundations of an ancient Dwemer city. Waterfalls tumble between its terraces, and almost every building is made of the same golden-grey stone. It is beautiful – and deeply corrupt.

Highlights

• Understone Keep – the seat of Jarl Igmund, built into the mountain, with Dwemer halls and the court wizard Calcelmo’s museum below.
• Cidhna Mine – a silver mine and a prison at the same time, owned by the powerful Silver-Blood family.
• The Silver-Blood Inn – where you can hire Vorstag.
• The Hall of the Dead and the Temple of Dibella.
• Vlindrel Hall – a house you can buy once you have earned the jarl’s favour.

The Forsworn conspiracy

Markarth is famous for welcoming you with a murder in the market square. Investigate it, and you are pulled into a conspiracy involving the Forsworn, the Silver-Bloods and Cidhna Mine itself – one of Skyrim’s best city storylines.

History

Markarth played a key role in the events that led to the civil war: years ago, Ulfric Stormcloak retook the city from the Forsworn in what became known as the Markarth Incident.

Good to know

Because the city is made of stone and built into the mountain, Jarl Igmund is the least worried of all the jarls about dragon attacks.