Caras Galadhon

Caras Galadhon, "the City of the Trees", was the chief dwelling of the Elves of Lothlórien, the hidden city of Galadriel and Celeborn. Built high among the great mallorn trees of the Golden Wood, it was one of the fairest places remaining in Middle-earth in the Third Age.

Description

Caras Galadhon stood upon a great green hill within Lothlórien, encircled by a moat and a wall. Its houses, called telain or flets, were built upon platforms set high in the boughs of the mallorn trees, whose silver bark and golden leaves did not fall until spring. Stairs and ladders wound up the trunks, and lights gleamed green, gold, and silver among the leaves. At its summit stood the talan of Galadriel and Celeborn, lords of the realm.

Significance

It was at Caras Galadhon that the Fellowship of the Ring was received and sheltered after the loss of Gandalf in Moria. There they rested and were given counsel and gifts by Galadriel, including the Elven cloaks, the lembas waybread, and the rope and other tokens that aided them on the road ahead. To Frodo Galadriel gave the phial of Eärendil, a light to guide him in dark places, which served him in the lair of Shelob.

Lothlórien and its city were preserved through the power of Galadriel and the Ring Nenya, which she bore. After the War of the Ring and the departure of Galadriel into the West, the Elves of Lothlórien dwindled and at last left, and the city was abandoned.