City · The Reach
City carved into a Dwemer ruin in the mountains of the Reach, ruled from Understone Keep. Silver mining, the Forsworn conspiracy and Calcelmo's Dwemer museum define it; the House of Horrors Daedric quest starts here.
Markarth is the capital of The Reach on the Skyrim map.
Markarth is the capital of the Reach, in the mountainous west of Skyrim close to the High Rock border. It is the only city built inside a Dwemer ruin: the houses are carved from stone, waterfalls run through the streets and everything climbs in tiers up the cliff. Markarth Stables and the carriage are outside the gate. Forsworn camps surround the hold, so the roads toward Rorikstead in the east and Karthwasten in the north are more dangerous than they look.
Understone Keep at the top of the city is the Jarl's seat, and also houses the wizard Calcelmo and his Dwemer excavation. Cidhna Mine, the prison run by the Silver-Blood family, is said to be the most secure in Skyrim. Near the entrance you find the Silver-Blood Inn (Kleppr), Arnleif and Sons Trading Company (Lisbet) and The Hag's Cure (Bothela), with Ghorza gra-Bagol's forge just above. The Temple of Dibella stands high on the rock, The Treasury House is the Silver-Blood base of power, and The Warrens, dug into the cliff, is where the city's poorest workers sleep. The boarded up Abandoned House hides a Daedric quest.
Jarl Igmund rules from Understone Keep with his uncle Raerek as steward. If the Stormcloaks take the Reach, Thongvor Silver-Blood becomes Jarl and Reburrus Quintilius serves as steward. Argis the Bulwark becomes your housecarl when you are named Thane of the Reach.
Vlindrel Hall costs 8,000 gold and sits on the top row of houses above the market, next door to Nepos's house. Under Igmund you must first complete Kill the Forsworn Leader and then Dungeon Delving, which does not appear until level 20. If Thongvor is Jarl he lets you buy it straight away. Furnishings cost 800 (bedroom), 900 (living room), 1,000 each for the alchemy and enchanting labs and 500 for the entrance hall, plus 700 for the Hearthfire child's bedroom. See Skyrim houses.
A murder in the market the moment you arrive kicks off The Forsworn Conspiracy, which leads straight into No One Escapes Cidhna Mine. The Heart of Dibella starts at the temple, and The House of Horrors, one of the Daedric quests, begins at the Abandoned House.
Trainers here are strong: Hamal at the Temple of Dibella teaches Enchanting at master level, Ogmund is an expert Speech trainer, Garvey in the Warrens teaches Sneak at expert level and Ghorza gra-Bagol offers basic Smithing lessons. Calcelmo sells spells in the keep. Full list under Skyrim trainers.
Markarth is in the west of the map, capital of the Reach, near the border with High Rock. The city is carved into a cliff inside an old Dwemer ruin.
Igmund, with Raerek as steward. If the Stormcloaks conquer the Reach, Thongvor Silver-Blood becomes Jarl.
Complete Kill the Forsworn Leader and Dungeon Delving for Jarl Igmund (level 20 or above), then buy Vlindrel Hall from Raerek for 8,000 gold.
The Forsworn Conspiracy, No One Escapes Cidhna Mine, The Heart of Dibella and the Daedric quest The House of Horrors all begin inside the city.
Cidhna Mine is inside Markarth's walls, on the left side of the city near the Treasury House. You are sent there as a prisoner during The Forsworn Conspiracy.