Cair Paravel

Cair Paravel is the fictional castle where the Kings and Queens of Narnia rule in "The Chronicles of Narnia". It is the location of the four thrones of High King Peter Pevensie, Queen Susan Pevensie, King Edmund Pevensie and Queen Lucy Pevensie.

Overview

Cair Paravel is first mentioned in the book The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It already exists at that time. When the four Pevensie children become Kings and Queens of the country after the defeat of the White Witch, Cair Paravel becomes the seat of the court of High King Peter.

In the book Prince Caspian, which takes place many centuries of Narnian time after "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" (but only a year in 'our' time) Cair Paravel is a ruin on an island at the point where the Great River of Narnia flows into the Eastern Ocean. It is here that the four Pevensies return to Narnia, although it takes them a while to realise where they are. In "The Silver Chair" it is told that Caspian X had rebuilt the castle by the end of his reign.

In "The Last Battle" Cair Paravel is surrounded by a city and is eventually sacked by the Tisroc of Calormen.

The name "Cair Paravel" is influenced by Welsh placenames beginning with "caer" meaning castle.

References in other media

Cair Paravel is mentioned in Joanna Newsom's song "Bridges and Balloons". A Christian K-12 school in Kansas called Cair Paravel-Latin School is named for it.

References