Guides / The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition

Vizima Castle Grounds

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition guide · Exploring the palace gardens ✓ Checked against sources
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The garden courtyard is crossed during the main quest "Imperial Audience" after speaking with Emperor Emhyr var Emreis and Yennefer. Players can explore the courtyard grounds to take on a skilled Gwent challenger sitting on a stone bench or investigate architectural peculiarities.

Region
Royal Palace in Vizima
Levels
Level 2
Getting there
You arrive automatically via the transition from the White Orchard main storyline upon concluding the quest Lilac and Gooseberries.
Connects to
Hanged Man’s Tree in Velen
Related quests
Imperial Audience · Collect 'Em All · Something Ends, Something Begins

Services and people

Quest NPCs 1

  • Nilfgaardian Nobleman · Gwent opponent who yields Foltest: The SiegemasterSitting on a stone bench in the courtyard garden

Services 1

  • Fast Travel signpost · Fast travelMain courtyard gates leading out of Vizima

The short version

What matters

  • •Defeating the Nilfgaardian Nobleman on the courtyard bench to win the Foltest: The Siegemaster leader card.
  • •Activating the red-glowing brick on the northern pillar to reveal the hidden wall chamber.
  • •Looting the skeleton and chest inside the secret chamber to collect the Old Letter and remaining items.

Common mistakes

  • •Assuming the Nilfgaardian Nobleman or the secret room are permanently lost upon leaving; you can return via the gate's Fast Travel signpost at any time.
  • •Overlooking the hidden chamber's trigger by not using Witcher Senses on the pillars in the northern corner.

What you can skip

  • •Searching the grounds for merchants, craftsmen, or shops, as none exist in this area.
  • •Preparing for battles or boss fights, since the courtyard serves entirely as a non-combat administrative zone.

Walkthrough May be incomplete

The area in the order you play it. Tick things off as you go: they tick off in the checklists below too.

  1. 1

    Garden Arrival

    When you exit the palace interior after completing your audiences with Emperor Emhyr var Emreis and Yennefer during "Imperial Audience", you will enter the garden courtyard framed by perimeter walls, pillars, and archways. Standard manual and auto-saving operate here, and a Fast Travel signpost stands at the main courtyard gates leading out of Vizima. Note that no vendors, blacksmiths, or merchants are located anywhere in these grounds, nor are there any combat encounters.

    Tip: You can use the signpost at the main gates to return here later at any point.

  2. 2

    The Gwent Challenger

    Approach the stone bench situated in the garden courtyard, where you will encounter a Nilfgaardian Nobleman sitting under the open sky. Speak to him to initiate a Gwent match and claim victory over him to acquire the Foltest: The Siegemaster leader card.

    Tip: He is not permanently missable, as you can fast travel back to challenge him later.

  3. 3

    Hidden Wall Mechanism

    Head to the northern corner of the courtyard to examine the surrounding pillars and perimeter wall. Trigger your Witcher Senses to spot a loose stone brick glowing red on a garden pillar, then press it to slide open a secret chamber within the wall.

    Tip: Activating Witcher Senses highlights the interactive brick red to make it easy to spot.

  4. 4

    Plundering the Secret Chamber

    Step into the revealed hidden room behind the wall to explore its contents. Loot the resting skeleton to obtain the Old Letter concerning Adda and the striga curse, and open the chamber's chest to gather the remaining loot.

  5. 5

    Courtyard Departure

    After clearing out the concealed room, make your way toward the main courtyard gates. Use the Fast Travel signpost located at the gates whenever you are ready to depart Vizima.

Checklists

Items

0/1

Shops and people
  • Nilfgaardian Nobleman: Offers matches of Gwent

Tips
  • The Nilfgaardian Nobleman's deck is packed with high-value cards and spies, making him very tough to beat early; you can safely return via the fast-travel post later once your deck is stronger.

Not listed for this area: secrets, enemies.

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Royal Palace in Vizima
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Velen

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Sources checked: questcompendium.com, fandom.com, game-checklists.com, ign.com, gamespot.com

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