Highgarden

Highgarden is the seat of House Tyrell and the regional capital of the Reach. It is next to the river Mander. Highgarden sits on the point where the Roseroad linking Oldtown and King's Landing forks off west on the Ocean Road which leads to Lannisport. As King's Landing, Oldtown, and Lannisport are the first, second, and third largest cities in Westeros, Heavy trade and traffic to and from Oldtown ultimately passes through Highgarden.

History
Highgarden was originally the seat of House Gardener, the house of the Kings of the Reach, until the invasion of Aegon the Conqueror. King Mern IX Gardner and all his issue were slaughtered by Aegon's dragons on the Field of Fire, so Aegon raised the Tyrells, the stewards of Highgarden, to rule over Highgarden and the Reach. This sparked off a long-standing complaint from House Florent of Brightwater Keep, who claimed a superior blood-link to the Gardners, though this has been constantly dismissed by later kings.

Notable residents of the castle

 * Lady Olenna Tyrell, known as the Queen of Thorns, the dowager-lady of the house.
 * Lord Mace Tyrell, the ruler of House Tyrell, eldest son of Lady Olenna.
 * Willas Tyrell, Mace's eldest son and heir.
 * Garlan Tyrell, Mace's second son and a formidable warrior.
 * Margaery Tyrell, Mace's only daughter, reputed to be a beautiful maiden, close to her brother Loras.

In the TV series
During the tournament held by King Renly Baratheon, when Ser Loras Tyrell duels with Brienne of Tarth, Margaery Tyrell cheers on her brother by standing up from her seat and shouting "Highgarden!".

In the books
In the Song of Ice and Fire novels, Highgarden is amongst the most attractive of the great castles, with immense gardens located within its strong, tiered walls.