The Vale of Arryn



The Vale of Arryn is one of the constituent regions of the continent of Westeros, and was formerly a sovereign nation known as the Kingdom of Mountain and Vale before the Targaryen conquest. The Vale is ruled by House Arryn from the castle known as the Eyrie. Protected and surrounded by mountain ranges, the Vale tends to be slightly isolated from the rest of Westeros.

Bastards born in the Vale are given the surname Stone.

In the books
In the Song of Ice and Fire novels, the term 'Vale' refers to the entire region ruled by the Arryns, as well as the Vale itself (which runs from the foot of the Giant's Lance almost to the sea). The Arryns rule the Vale from the castle known as the Eyrie.

The people of the Vale, popularly called 'valemen', are known as honorable, reliable warriors steeped in honor and the worship of the Faith of the Seven.

Some of the valemen living in the foothills of the Mountains of the Moon have rejected the authority of the Eyrie and exist as little more than clans and tribes of savage warriors, such as the Black Ears and Burned Men. Whilst dangerous to passing travelers, they lack the number and equipment to properly invade or trouble the Vale.

The borders of the Vale are held to be the Bite to the north, the Bay of Crabs to the south, the Mountains of the Moon to the west and the Narrow Sea to the east.

Castles of the Vale

 * The Eyrie, the seat of House Arryn, the ruling house of the Vale.
 * The Bloody Gate, a fortress guarding the entrance to the Vale through the Mountains of the Moon, held by a rotating garrison.
 * The Fingers, held by various minor lords in small towerhouses, most notably House Baelish.
 * The Gates of the Moon, a fortress which guards the foot of the Giant's Lance, held by House Royce.
 * Gulltown, the principal city and port of the Vale, ruled by House Grafton.
 * Runestone, the seat of House Royce.