In Game of Thrones, Roose Bolton’s fortress is called the Dreadfort.
The Dreadfort is the ancestral seat of House Bolton, a powerful northern family notorious for its brutal practice of flaying enemies. Its name reflects the house’s reputation for cruelty and intimidation, making it one of the most ominously named strongholds in Westeros.
Roose Bolton begins the story as a bannerman of House Stark and Lord of the Dreadfort. He later betrays Robb Stark during the Red Wedding, earning a reward from the Lannisters and becoming Warden of the North. The fortress then becomes central to the Bolton family’s rule and to Ramsay Bolton’s abuse of Theon Greyjoy.
The Dreadfort should not be confused with Winterfell, the Stark stronghold that the Boltons eventually control politically. Winterfell is a separate castle, while the Dreadfort remains the Bolton family seat. In the television series, its grim identity is reinforced by the family’s flayed-man banner and their fearsome reputation.