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Caras Galadhon

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Caras Galadhon
Physical Description
LocationThe Naith
InhabitantsThe Galadhrim, including Celeborn and Galadriel
General Information
Other namesCity of the Trees
EtymologyS. "city of trees"

Caras Galadhon (pronounced [ˈkaras ˈɡalaðon]) the city and fortress of the Galadhrim of Lothlórien.[1]



Caras Galadhon was in the Naith of Lórien, in the angle between the rivers Celebrant and Anduin known as Egladil.[1]

The city was located on a green hill surrounded by a fosse and a wall whose gates lay to the south-west. The inhabitants dwelled in large flets in the trees, reached by white ladders. On the top of the hill, in the greatest of trees, were the house of Celeborn and Galadriel.[1] In the same tree were the highest point in the land.[2]


The city was founded in the second millennium of the Third Age due to the growing threat of Dol Guldur.[2]




The name Caras Galadhon is said to be Silvan Elvish.[2]. However the word caras is also attested as Sindarin.

Galadhon can be interpreted as genitive plural "of trees", showing a case ending not existing in Sindarin but known from Quenya. Tolkien's earliest version of Sindarin, called Goldogrin, also possessed this ending. In that case Caras Galadhon means "moated fortress of the trees".

The name could also refer in some way to Galadhon, whom Tolkien conceived to be the father of Celeborn. In that case the name would mean *"Galadhon's fortress".


In the first edition of The Fellowship of the Ring, Caras Galadhon was misspelled "Caras Galadon".

Portrayal in adaptations

Caras Galadhon from The Lord of the Rings Online


A view Caras Galadhon from Cerin Amroth is only present in the Extended Edition. The Fellowship's stay in the city is a significant portion of the film.

2002: Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring:

Caras Galadhon scenes are rather brief, mostly limited to the Mirror of Galadriel scene.

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Caras Galadhon is the main inhabited area in Lothlorien, where players cannot enter until they prove their friendship to Galadhrim. The map and general layout of the city is replicated from the map in The Atlas of Middle-earth. The city hosts most major gameplay facilities and is composed of a large number of flets on different levels, connected by multiple ladders and staircases. It is rather hard to navigate and thus several quests consist solely of directing the player to various point of interest, then challenging him to find them again. The Company Pavilion, Galadriel's Garden and the House of Celeborn are also located there.

