Nosferatu – Eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922)

Establishing shot over the town of Wisborg. Looking down on Wismar marketplace from Marienkirche church tower. The spire of the church being destroyed by bombing during the second world war. Wismar, which, at the time of filming, was part of Free State of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

Centrepiece of the market square is the "Wasserkunst", built between 1595 and 1602

Thomas Hutter (Gustav von Wangenheim) returning home to his wife, Ellen (Greta Schroeder). Füchtingshof, Glockengießerstraße, Lübeck, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.

Flora abounds

He meets Professor Bulwer (John Gottowt) an Alchemist. Füchtingshof.

The Füchtingshof was originally built circa. 1640, it was rebuilt in the 1970s and has since been subsidised social housing.

Hutter is given the task of selling a property (opposite his own) to a Transylvanian Count by property agent Knock (Alexander Granach). We see the property from Hutter's window. Salzspeicher (16th century salt warehouses), An d. Obertrave, Lübeck.

The salt warehouses, founded 1579, received salt from Lüneburg for onward shipping to scandinavia

Leaving Ellen with his friend, Harding (G H Schnell) & Harding's sister, Ruth (Ruth Landshoff) in preparation of his journey.

Hutter departing. Courtyard behind Heilig Geist Evangelist Church off Neustadt, Wismar.

A tranquil setting away from the crowds

We see a foreboding Transylvanian landscape. Looking north towards the peak of Slavkovský štít. Near Tatranské Zruby, Czechoslovakia.

More forestation now.

Arriving at the local inn for the night.

Horses frightened by a hyena prowling nearby. Possibly, the Piesčiny valley to the north-west of Nová Lesná rail station, Czechoslovakia at the time of filming, Slovakia since 1992.

Looking north from the Poľský hrebeň ridge, Tatranská Javorina, Czechoslovakia.

Clear waters of Zamrznuté pleso.

Dawn brings a relaxedness. Central peak is Slavkovský štít. Possibly, the Piesčiny valley to the north-west of Nová Lesná rail station.

Dismissive of local warnings, Hutter sets off for the castle.

Formidable rock formations. Near Hotel Sliezsky Dom, Tatranská polianka in Czechoslovakia. Martin Larsen has been able to name the peaks (left to right): Granátová stena, Granátová vežička, Velická stena

Velické pleso can be just seen bottom-left.

Hutter begins the ascent to the pass. Service road (Route 2865) to Hotel Sliezsky Dom, Tatranská polianka.

Looking beyond to the sub-Tatra basin.

Precarious hairpins. Summit of Končistá obscured by cloud . . .

We see the timber bridge shiver as the coach rides over it. Velický most. Martin Larsen advises that the peaks are: Dvojitá veža (left) and Velická kopa (right).

When stood on top of the modern bridge, the two peaks are still just visible through the trees.

The coachmen refuse to go any further, so Hutter continues his journey on foot. His hubris casts us an unafraid glance. Footbridge from Sliezsky Dom hotel.

That's not a traffic cone, they're used to make waymarkers more visible!

Orlok's castle looms up. Orava Castle (Oravský hrad) seen from the north-east. Oravský Podzámok, Czechoslovakia.

The Citadel, the oldest and highest part of the castle, sitting atop its limestone finger.

Passing a shrine. PLEASE NOTE: This location has not been verified. The shrine was located above the village of Kňažia in Dolný Kubín, Czechoslovakia. Moved sometime after the second world war to its current location at Lat/long: 49.239869998330164,19.324228860324485

Suddenly, a mysterious coach appears. PLEASE NOTE: This location has not been verified. Cited as Vrátna dolina, Slovakia. Lat/long:49.230186,19.026007

A supernatural journey.

Nearing the castle.

This was taken just outside Oravský Podzámok looking south, and seems to match the mountainscape quite closely. The high peak on the right is Veľký Choč. Photo Lat/long: 49.26000,19.34439

Bats (?!) flying round the tower. Orava.

Looking more cared for today.

Arriving at the castle. First gateway, Orava.

The first gateway is dated to the end of the 16th century.

Count Orlok (Max Schreck) awaits his guest. Orava's second gateway.

A funerary carriage can be seen at the entrance to the tunnel.

Entering The Defensive Ward.

The defensive ward incorporates arrow slits and nozzles for pouring hot tar on attackers.

Hutter freezes on seeing his host. Looking from the tunnel to the second gateway.

Not equipped with the long lens of Murnau!

Ushered deep into his lair.

The only way forward is via the tunnel.

The next day, Hutter explores the castle. The Central Courtyard.

Trees having been removed exposes The Parsonage.

Taking in the views from the gloriette.

The taking in of views from the gloriette was prohibited when I visited.

Determined to find his host's daytime resting place. The Middle Courtyard.

Despite the scaffolding, changes to the castle here are obvious.

Wrenching open the door to the crypt. The Armoury.

The scene where Hutter decends steps in the crypt, is as far as I can tell, a studio set.

Glowering skies.

Orlok prepares rat-infested, earth laden coffins for his journey to Wisborg. Martin Larsen advises that this scene was a set which was almost identical to Orava Castle's Third Gateway area, the major difference being the width of the gateway is narrower that the castle's.

Raft carries its sinister cargo downriver. River Váh (somewhere near Vrútky), Czechoslovakia.

Ellen yearning for her love. Rotes Kliff (Red Cliff), Sylt, Germany.

Rotes Kliff, captured by Stuart Robins who explains that it's impossible to get an exact match given a century of coastal erosion. This is taken close to the Sturmhaube car park which was the most obvious access from Kampen.

As the Hardings play Croquet, a letter arrives for Ellen from Thomas.

The "Empusa" carries Orlok towards Wisborg. In reality, this was the schooner "Jürgen". The ship was towed in the Baltic near the island of Poel for filming.

Hutter, racing Orlok, returns by land. Looking over a pond to the rear of Eichenweg 34, Israelsdorf, Lübeck.

Lovely nature spot

As a coach wheel breaks, Hutter continues on foot. Eichenweg 17, Israelsdorf, Lübeck.

Sadly, that grand old tree has now gone

The bow of the Empusa penetrates the right of the frame as it arrives at Wisborg port. Alter Hafen, Wismar. Marienkirche seen distant right.

Wismar harbour, showing the remaining tower of Marienkirche

The Empusa docked at Wisborg. Alter Hafen, Wismar.

The area was very busy with tourists (of which I was one)!

Orlok relocates to his new home, The Empusa can be seen docked behind him. Wassertor, Spiegelberg, Wismar in Mecklenburg.

The Water Gate, the only city gate to remain, of which there were five

Racing through the streets of Wisborg. Glandorps Gang, Lübeck.

As Hutter walks past those two adjacent entranceways of equal height, you can still see where the second one has been bricked up behind the nearest drainpipe

Moving swiftly through the night. St.-Georgen-Kirche on Baustraße, Wismar.

Much redevelopment work taking place at the church

Finally home. Aegidienkirchhof, Lübeck.

Peering through the trees

The Isle of the Dead. Traversing the Trave cannal to Salzspeicher, Lübeck.

Ducks in the grass

A Great Plague breaks out in all the port towns Orlok has travelled through, inevitably it arrives at Wisborg. Plague houses being marked. Füchtingshof, Glockengießerstraße, Lübeck.

Plague free

Line of the dead being carried out. Ellen sees this, knows the plagues origin and knows what she must do. Depenau, Lübeck.

Heavily redeveloped street

Townsfolk gossip about Knock. Rademacher Gang, Lübeck.

No gossip today

Knock on the run 1. After being incarcerated for insanity, property agent Knock escapes and is chased by a crowd. Rademacher Gang, Lübeck.

A peaceful scene today

Knock on the run 2. "There!". Possibly, Pagönnienstraße, Lübeck

Knock on the run 3. Pagönnienstraße, Lübeck. Filmed from the viewing platform of St Peter's Church.

Stuart Robins took this view from the tower of St Peter's Church. The angle is higher than the original which must have been shot from lower in the tower (now not accessible) or from over the wall in front.

Knock on the run 4. Possibly, Rehhagens Gang, Lübeck.

Annex on the right has practically halved the width of the alley

Knock on the run 5. Blohms Gang, Lübeck.

A very bicycle friendly city

Knock on the run 6.

Ellen uses the ruse of sickness, sending Hutter on an errand to fetch Professor Bulwer. Possibly, von Dornes Hof, Lübeck. I was able to view it, but not take photos, it was redeveloped in 1975 and looks like that row of houses has now gone.

Returning home with Bulwer, is he too late? Aegidienkirchhof, Lübeck.

Blinded by the light

Ellen's sacrifice. Starý Hrad, Nezbudská Lúčka, Czechoslovakia.