Middle-earth

Location

Rivendell

Also known as Imladris, The Last Homely House East of the Sea

Elrond’s refuge in a hidden valley below the Misty Mountains, a haven of lore, healing and counsel.

Tolkien’s textsSupported by the narratives published in Tolkien’s lifetime.
Type
Realm
Region
Eriador
Age
The Third Age
On the map
42%, 30%
Rivendell

On the interactive atlas

Coordinates shown here are approximate, marking this place on the shared atlas map for orientation rather than cartography. It sits on the Third Age layer.

View on the interactive atlas →

Geography

A deep, wooded valley cut by the Bruinen, protected by the Ford and guarded by Elrond’s power through the ring Vilya.

History

Founded by Elrond in the Second Age as a refuge after the ruin of Eregion. It survived the wars of the North and became a storehouse of lore and the seat of the White Council’s counsels.

People & inhabitants

Elves of Elrond’s household, including Noldor and Sindar; foster-sons including Aragorn.

Significance

The Council of Elrond decides the fate of the Ring; the reforging of Andúril and the wedding of Aragorn and Arwen take place in its orbit.

Connections

The Ford of Bruinen guards its approach; the High Pass and Moria lie east through the mountains.

Events here

Figures of this place

Elrond
Character

Elrond

Lord of Rivendell, keeper of the Elven-ring Vilya, loremaster and healer, and foster-father of Aragorn.

Arwen Undómiel
Character

Arwen Undómiel

Daughter of Elrond who chose mortality to wed Aragorn, uniting the lines of Lúthien and Beren.

Aragorn
Character

Aragorn

The heir of Isildur, raised in Rivendell in secret, who becomes King Elessar and reunites the kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor.

Gandalf
Character

Gandalf

A Wizard of the Istari, keeper of the Elven-ring Narya, and the chief architect of the resistance to Sauron.

Bilbo Baggins
Character

Bilbo Baggins

A respectable Shire hobbit who is swept into the quest of Erebor and becomes the first hobbit to bear the One Ring.

Frodo Baggins
Character

Frodo Baggins

The hobbit of the Shire who carried the One Ring across Middle-earth to Mount Doom and destroyed it.

Glorfindel
Character

Glorfindel

A mighty Elf-lord of Rivendell and, in the First Age, a hero who fell fighting a Balrog.

Sources

  • The Lord of the Rings · 1954–55

    Three volumes: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King.

  • The Hobbit · 1937

    Published in Tolkien’s lifetime. The primary narrative of Bilbo’s journey.

  • The Silmarillion · 1977

    Posthumously edited. Contains the Ainulindalë, Valaquenta, Quenta Silmarillion, Akallabêth and Of the Rings of Power.

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