28. The Shire set
The Shire is a fictional region in Tolkien’s world. It measures around 40 leagues, and is based on rural England.
The Shire – a rural paradise
Hobbiton – Frodo and Sam’s hometown – is within the Shire. A set was built for the film in Matamata, New Zealand.
[dx_custom_adunit mobile_id=”RTK_qQCt”]
It was built with hobbit holes, and the builders allowed greenery to grow freely. Jackson wrote,
“I knew Hobbiton needed to be warm, comfortable and feel lived in. By letting the weeds grow through the cracks and establishing hedges and little gardens a year before filming, we ended up with an incredibly real place, not just a film set.”
