Novigrad

Novigrad is a fictional city-state in The Witcher series, serving as the northern Continent’s largest city and a major hub of commerce, culture, and politics. It operates as a free city with its own governance and a cosmopolitan population drawn from humans and non-humans alike.

Location and layout: Positioned on the coast with access to inland river routes and a busy harbor, Novigrad functions as a gateway for trade between inland regions and maritime markets. The city is organized into quarters that accommodate merchants, guilds, craftsmen, and residents, reflecting a layered urban fabric.

Governance and power: As a Free City, Novigrad maintains a degree of autonomy from surrounding kingdoms and is governed by a council of magistrates and influential merchants. Religious and other institutions, such as the Church of the Eternal Fire in some periods, exercise varying levels of influence on policy and daily life.

Economy and society: The city hosts a dense commercial network, a thriving guild system, and a robust port economy. It is known for its crafts, markets for exotic goods, and a multicultural population that includes merchants, artisans, laborers, and scholars. An active informal economy and occasional underworld activity are also noted in depictions of the city.

Culture and daily life: Novigrad features theaters, taverns, inns, and a bustling street market culture, along with religious sites and bureaucratic institutions. Its social landscape includes opportunities and dangers, balanced by law enforcement and a complex legal framework.

In the Witcher series: Novigrad serves as a central setting in several games and stories, most prominently in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, where it is portrayed as a sprawling city undergoing political turmoil and rich with quests involving commerce, espionage, and factional intrigue.