Explore the filming locations of Dracula Untold

Luke Evans as Dracula in the 2014 film Dracula Untold filmed in Northern Ireland — Luke Evans as Dracula in the 2014 film Dracula Untold | © Universal Pictures

You don’t need to go to Romania to experience Vlad the Impaler’s kingdom from Dracula Untold. The Transylvania depicted in Gary Shore’s dark fantasy action film was filmed at places we care for in Northern Ireland, including the Giant’s Causeway and Mount Stewart.

Exploring the settings of Dracula Untold

Based on the Bram Stoker’s original protagonist, the film starring Luke Evans follows the origins of Dracula. It weaves vampire mythology with the true history of Vlad the Impaler, depicting Dracula as a flawed hero in a tragic love story set in a dark age of magic and war.

It was the variety and evocative nature of the scenery in Northern Ireland, that made it the perfect place to film the movie. Not far from Belfast, visitors can follow in Dracula’s footsteps, from his castle grounds to the Transylvania plains where grand battles took place on screen.

Giant’s Causeway, County Antrim

The mighty stones of the world-famous Giant’s Causeway doubled as a fictional mountain in Transylvania – with a little CGI help. Wander across thousands of basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption, seen in the movie’s backdrop as Dracula’s red cape flaps in the wind onscreen.

The Belfast Hills, County  Antrim

Divis and the Black Mountain’s wide-open spaces and vast views are the setting for the bloody battle scenes in the film. On screen we see hundreds of soldiers dressed in armour march between staggering hillsides.

Divis and the Black Mountain are wonderfully atmospheric and grey – stunningly desolate and perfect for the Transylvania plains.

A quote by Catherine GearyDracula Untold Locations Manager

Mount Stewart, County Down

Mount Stewart’s Italian Garden became the grounds of Dracula’s castle, with its lavish plant collection. There are 70 acres of gardens to explore at Mount Stewart, from a sophisticated formal garden of specimen trees to fanciful stone carvings of animal characters.

It was really exciting to host the cast and crew of Dracula Untold at Mount Stewart. To be associated with such a huge Hollywood blockbuster gives us a great opportunity to showcase our wonderful places on a world stage. It’s great not just for the places we look after, but for Northern Ireland as a whole.

A quote by John KerrNational Trust General Manager, Mount Stewart

Supporting special places

As well as showing off beautiful locations, filming directly benefits the places in our care that star in the production. The income from location fees goes straight back into conservation work to care for historic houses and landscapes, so that we’ll all be able to see them both on screen and in real life for years to come.

'As well as the huge profile that filming brings, every film shot in our places generates income,' says John Kerr, General Manager at Mount Stewart. 'This helps to look after the place in which it was filmed. So, there are also huge conservation benefits.’