The Dragon's Keep is a large fortress formerly guarded by Dragon until she abandoned it and where Fiona was once held captive.
Overview[]
The old, dilapidated castle is built on a rock pinnacle located in the middle of a volcano. A rickety, wooden bridge hanging over the moat of lava serves as the only entrance into the castle. The strong odor of brimstone can be smelled from afar. The stone that makes up the castle has been burnt and blackened over time. Dark clouds loom over the castle, shrouding it in darkness no matter the time of day. Fiona was kept in the highest room in the tallest tower of the castle (see: Fiona's Tower).
History[]
Shrek[]
Shrek agrees to rescue Fiona from the Dragon's Keep for Lord Farquaad in exchange for the deed to his swamp. Shrek and Donkey arrive at the keep, crossing the rickety bridge and over the lava moat. The pair wander through the castle in search of Fiona when Donkey crashes into a pile of knight remains. Shrek puts on some of the armor and orders Donkey to search for the stairs to Fiona's tower while he looks for the Dragon. After Donkey accidentally wakes the dragon, Shrek ends up being tossed up at the tower and into Fiona's room. Posing as a knight, he rescues Princess Fiona and goes back to retrieve his "noble steed". Dragon chases after them and burns down the bridge during their escape from the keep. Shrek chains Dragon to the castle, preventing her from reaching them and allowing them to get away.
Shrek 2[]
Prince Charming arrives at the Dragon's Keep to rescue Princess Fiona from her tower. Because the bridge was destroyed by the dragon's fire, Charming creates a zipline in order to cross the lava. To his shock, the castle is abandoned and in Fiona's place is the Big Bad Wolf. Wolf informs Charming that Fiona is already rescued and married.
Shrek the Third[]
This is the only film where the Dragon's Keep does not make a physical appearance. Charming has a set of the Dragon's Keep constructed for his play. It includes the lava moat, the bridge, the tallest tower, and a cardboard dragon.
Shrek Forever After[]
In the alternate universe, Shrek finds that to reverse the deal that took away his life, he has to get his true love's kiss. He runs to the Dragon's Keep to rescue Fiona from her tower, finding the volcano to be dried out and the castle abandoned. In this universe without Shrek to rescue her, Fiona escaped from the tower herself. Rumpelstiltskin captured Dragon and keeps her chained up in the lower levels of his palace.
Exterior[]
Volcano[]
The castle is built on a crumbling pinnacle of rock in the middle of an active volcano.
Lake of Lava[]
A lake of boiling hot lava surrounds the keep as a moat. The strong odor of brimstone can be smelled even from afar.
Bridge[]
A rickety bridge suspended over the moat of lava and leading to the castle's entrance. The bridge was later destroyed by Dragon while attempting to stop Shrek, Donkey and Fiona from escaping.
Interior[]
Great Hall[]
This massive room makes up most of the interior. It has stone statues and is littered with the armor, weapons, and skeletal remains of the many unsuccessful knights who had attempted to rescue Fiona before Shrek.
Courtyard[]
An outdoor courtyard that leads to Fiona's tower. This is where Dragon ended up catapulting Shrek into Fiona's room.
Fiona's Tower[]
Also known as "the highest room of the tallest tower", where Princess Fiona was locked away in (one could say, "Slept," but it's revealed in Shrek the Musical that she is actually a "morning person", and drinks coffee every morning) until Shrek rescued her.
Dragon's Kitchen[]
This room contains a giant cauldron and a large cooking book, and leads to Dragon's Bedchamber.
Dragon's Bedchamber[]
A large room containing a horde of treasure and gold with a large chandelier hanging above, which Shrek used to chain Dragon and prevent her from leaving the keep.
Former Residents[]
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The mountains that the Dragon's Keep are nestled in was mentioned to be named Mount Gloam in the Shrek 4-D queue.
- Dragon's Keep appears in DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing as one of the race tracks. Dragon herself appears inside the treasure chamber, spitting fireballs at the racers.
- This location is used for one of the levels in the Shrek Special Pack DLC for the video game PowerWash Simulator.