Part of the power of Star Wars is the exotic lands of a galaxy far, far away. But the fact is, locations like Tatooine and Endor are actual places on our own planet. Scroll through some of the sites where your favorite scenes were filmed. They definitely were not sound stages.
1. Hotel Sidi Driss, and the Lars Homestead, a couple hundred miles away from the above-ground home back in Chott el-Jerid (Star Wars).
Filmed in Tunisia.
Photo Credit: Flickr Creative Commons
2. Hotel Sidi Driss is a troglodyte in Matmata, Tunisia, and was used for interior shots of Luke Skywalker’s house on Tatooine (Episode IV)
Photo Credit: By Bernard Gagnon – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
3. Death Valley National Park in California served as the location for R2-D2’s scene with the Jawas in Episode IV, as well as for exterior shots of Jabba’s palace in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.
Found mostly off Route 190.
Photo Credit: Wolfgangbeyer CC-BY-SA-3.0
4. Tikal, Guatemala, was Yamin 4, the jungle moon that was the base of the Rebel Alliance.
The structures are ancient Mayan temples. Appeared in Episode VI and in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Photo Credit: Flickr
5. Hardangerjokulen, Norway, was Hoth, the ice planet in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.
Sometimes, only accessible by skiers.
Photo Credit: ArnfinnChristensen [CC0], from Wikimedia Commons
6. Redwood National and State Parks, CA, portrayed Endor, the woodsy home of the Ewoks in Episode VI.
Photo Credit: Michael Schweppe via Wikimedia Commons
7. The Royal Palace of Caserta in Caserta, Italy, was used as the Naboo Royal Palace.
Photo Credit: Flickr
8. Whippendell Wood of Watford, England, was the Episode I setting for Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi’s meeting with Jar Jar Binks in Gungan Forest.
Photo Credit: Flickr
9. Plaza de Espana, Seville, Spain, gave the capital of Naboo, Theed an elegant feel.
Photo Credit: Carlos Delgado from Wikimedia Commons
10. Villa del Balbianello, Lake Como, Italy, was the perfect place to shoot Padme Amidala and Anakin Skywalker’s secret wedding.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Creative Commons
11. Grindelwald, Switzerland’s dramatic mountain peaks made it into the backdrop of Princess Leia’s Alderaan in Episode III.
Photo Credit: Flickr
12. Phang Nga Bay near Phuket, Thailand, was used in Episode III for a backdrop in the Battle of Kashyyyk.
Photo Credit: Flickr
George Lucas and crew traveled the world to bring the beloved saga of Star Wars to life. How many places will you visit?
