Bleak Falls Barrow (Location)



Bleak Falls Barrow is a massive, ancient temple built by the Nords to worship the Dragons. It was confirmed to appear in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Traversing the temple is necessary in order to complete The Golden Claw quest in which the player must dispatch a group of bandits and recover a stolen family heirloom. Bleak Falls Barrow is where ancient Nords buried their dead; as such, the Barrow is infested with aggressive Draugr. There may be dragon perched on the arch outside the temple, assuming that the player has completed enough of the main storyline. One Giant Spider inhabits this temple as well, serving as a mini-boss half way through the catacombs. The codes for the gates to open can be found on the walls around the gate that you have to unlock, from left to right order.

There is also an Inner sanctum, which is blocked by another gate that only the Golden Claw can open after a puzzle is solved. (The puzzle is solved by looking at the palm of the Golden Claw and goes from top to bottom as follows: Bear, Dragon, Owl then hit the activate panel in the center of the door). Inside the Inner Sanctum lies a word wall, guarded by a sleeping Dragon Priest (alternatively a Draugr Overlord if the player is at a low level). This is most likely one of the first dungeons the player will clear, and also the first dragon shout you will learn. After defeating the boss you will have a chance to learn the word, which is the first part of the unrelenting force shout.

Early on in the main questline you are sent to Bleak Falls Barrow to find the Dragon Stone. Whether you have started that quest or not this stone tablet will be dropped by Draugr "boss" burried next to the word wall. If you already have it when being given the quest by Farengar Secret-Fire you can just say so to him and move on. However, doing this means you will not run into Delphine talking to him as you would on your return.