Researched points about Skyrim as a region. The different cities and a few extras. This is from the lore pages of UESPWiki, the real life library! Most of their information comes from books within the games, as well as the other games such as Arena (where every province was visited). Feel free to add additional information you may know.

The reason I posted these is because in the hype of the new game, many of us are ignoring the information we already have from other games, and are instead too focused on what devs are telling us.


The Gehenoth: A monstrous beast who attacks adventurers as they rest. Found in the dungeons around the city of Dawnstar in Skyrim.

Dawnstar: Dawnstar is a garrison town on the northern coast of Skyrim. It was once home to a gladiatorial team called the Avengers.

At the end of the third era, Dawnstar's Queen Macalla married Thian, king of Solitude leading to an alliance between the two city-states, as part of an expansion of Solitude's power in northern Skyrim.

Falkreath: At one point the city seems to have been counted as part of Cyrodiil. Falkreath was once home to a gladiatorial team known as the Dark Shadows.

In the first and second eras, Falkreath was one of several kingdoms making up western Colovia, but in the final century of the second era, the kingdom came to greater prominence under the leadership of Cuhlecain and his general, Hjalti Early-Beard or Talos - later to be known as Tiber Septim.

High Hrothgar: is a settlement high atop the highest peak in Skyrim, the Throat of the World. Sitting atop seven thousand stone steps, here dwell the ancient Greybeards who endeavor to become more attuned to the voice of the sky. The Nords believe that they were created by Kyne when the sky breathed onto the peak of the mountain, which is also known as Snow-Throat. It is possible that Hrothgar has a mystical connection with the vanished Falmer

Graybeards: An ancient and honored people sometimes called the Tongues of Skyrim, they dwell primarily in High Hrothgar on the Throat of the World (the highest peak in Skyrim). They live in absolute silence order to better attune themselves to the voice of the sky. They are some of the last mortal Voice users.

Tiber Septim led the invasion of Old Hrol'dan and reclaimed it from the Witchmen of High Rock. The Greybeards became disgruntled, and storms brewed as they prepared to speak. The nearby citizens evacuated the area, but Talos made his way to the Greybeards' home. When the Greybeards spoke Talos' name the world shook; they told him that he would rule Tamriel, but he needed to go south to do so.

Markarth: is a city in west-central Skyrim, notable for possessing an Imperial College of the Voice founded by Tiber Septim.

Rifton: (also known as Riften) is a town in southeastern Skyrim, close to the province's borders with both Cyrodiil and Morrowind. It was once home to a gladiatorial team called the Furies.

It was in Rifton that Barenziah joined the Thieves Guild when she returned to Morrowind from her exile in Skyrim.

Solitude: (also known as Haafingar) is a major port city on the northern coast of the province of Skyrim. It is famous for being the northernmost town in Tamriel and infamous as the seat of the so-called Wolf Queen, Potema. Solitude was also ruled by King Mantiarco mostly before his marriage to Potema.

Over time, Solitude became one of the wealthiest cities and counties in Skyrim, and by the end of the Third Era it controlled most of the northern coastline of Skyrim after King Thian married Queen Macalla of Dawnstar. Seeking to expand its influence even farther, Solitude annexed several Imperial fiefs, including the island of Roscrea (all of the fiefs had been ruled by the Empire since Uriel Septim V conquered them in 3E 271). It later began to fund exploration into (and perhaps beyond) the Sea of Ghosts. At one point, the city was home to a gladiatorial team called the Ravagers.

Saarthal: was the first city built in Skyrim after the arrival of Ysgramor from Atmora. A few years after its foundation, the city was burned to the ground by the Elves during the Night of Tears, although it may have been reclaimed by the Nords shortly afterward.
In the late Second Era, the ruins of the city were located by archaeologists near the modern city of Winterhold. The fall of Saarthal is thought to be responsible for the creation of Sheor, a demonized version of Shor.

Whiterun is a town in central Skyrim, in which the young Barenziah escaped to for a week with a young lover during her return to Mournhold. Whiterun was once home to a gladiatorial team known as the Devastators.

The area containing Whiterun and High Hrothgar used to be referred to as the "Imperial City of Skyrim", before it underwent several acts of chaos, including a dynastic feud, attacks by H?rme bandits and frost trolls, and a series of annihilating winters of alternating floods, droughts, and fires. A self-proclaimed priestess of Lorkhan, Jsashe the Witch-Queen, controls the county and the local witches' coven.

Windhelm: is a city in northeastern Skyrim, close to the border with Morrowind. It is the only substantial city in the Hold of Eastmarch and is a base for Imperial troops guarding the Dunmeth Pass into Morrowind. Windhelm was once the capital of the First Empire of the Nords and the old palace of the Ysgramor dynasty can still be seen in the center of the city. The palace is in fact one of the few original First Empire buildings left, as the city has been sacked twice: once during the War of Succession (before 1E 420) and by the Akaviri army of Ada'Soom Dir-Kamal. Windhelm was once home to a gladiatorial team called the Paladins.

Winterhold: (sometimes spelled Winter Hold) is the capital of the namesake county and a coastal fortress, located on the northeastern tip of Skyrim. It was once home to a gladiatorial team known as the Annihilators. Somewhat isolated from the rest of Nord culture, but still wealthy and influential, it is known as one of the Old Holds. Due to its proximity to Morrowind's border, Winterhold is heavily affected by Dunmer ways and ideas, fueling part of its economy. It contains the Ysmir Collective, an integral part of the well-known College of Winterhold. Traditionally, warriors from Winterhold are thought to favor large axes in battle. The city has a long-standing rivalry with Solitude, a fellow port city in Skyrim. The ruins of Saarthal are close by.

Ysmir Collective: A library in Winterhold, Skyrim that attracts scholars from all over Tamriel.

Jsashe also referred to as the Witch-Queen of Whiterun, is the woman in control of the area around High Hrothgar and Whiterun, in central Skyrim. She is the leader of that area's local witches coven, and a self-proclaimed Priestess of Lorkhan.

Lore is not an indicator of game content. The lore is ret-conned to suit the game everytime. Cyrodiil is a jungle. No it isn't , they changed it to make Oblivion more Tolkien, Actually, it wasn't a jungle to start with, someone just wanted to change everywhere to be as odd as Morrowind, etc., etc.....
If we took the lore as proof of content, then werewolves, werebears, the Labyrinthian, witch covens, Volkihar, and a team of arena gladiators in every town would be confirmed.
Not trying to have a go, thanks for posting, just saying like....