Cities of the North - Winterhold
⚪ Last updated 2022⚠️ Install Order · 5 steps
Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.
🖼️ Gallery (12 images)
🔍 Analysis
- 👍 0.4% endorsement rate
- 🏆 #23 of 50 Cities, Towns, Villages, and Hamlets mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
Cities of the North is my project to create a custom tileset for each of the four minor cities : Dawnstar, Morthal, Falkreath and Winterhold. There are more than enough overhauls for these on the Nexus, but I've never felt like each of these cities was truly unique. The difference between these four and the five major ones is simple : unique architecture. Solitude, Whiterun, Riften, Windhelm and Markarth each have a strong visual identity and you immediately know whether you are in the Reach or the Rift just by looking at the buildings. I wanted to do the same for the hold capitals that were only made of farmhouses and thus had no real identity independently of which overhaul you used. This project aims to stay close to vanilla and be as compatible as possible. The idea is that you can use any of you favourite overhauls (or combination of), install this mod with the necessary patch, and give this unique architecture style to the version of the city you prefer. I hope this project brings you this little something that was missing in your cities. Enjoy !
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Thank you ElderScrollsModding for the showcase !
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Video by Arctic Scrolls, thanks !
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A very unique showcase, courtesy of Heavy Burns !
New unique model for every building in Winterhold
New interiors matching the buildings
Completely navmeshed
LOD has been completely generated for the area
The Jarl's longhouse music has been changed to match the major cities' ones
It is recommended to install this mod on a new save, otherwise some objects may not be placed correctly in the interiors. If
you have not entered Winterhold's houses in your playthrough yet, you can install it on your current save.
I recommend using DynDOLOD if you intend to combine this mod with a Winterhold overhaul. I have included the low-poly models in the BSA archive so DynDOLOD can use them when generating LOD for your load order.
The following patches are provided :
Alternate Start - Live Another Life (ESL)
JK's Skyrim (ESL) + New models
Medieval Lanterns of Skyrim (ESL)
JK's Skyrim + Medieval Lanterns of Skyrim (ESL)
Skyrim 3D Signs (ESL)
Missives (ESL)
Enhanced Landscapes (ESL)
DK's Realistic Nord Ships SSE (ESL)
Patches uploaded by other users :
COTN Winterhold Patch Collection --> CLICK HERE
Cities of the North - Winterhold is a city overhaul mod for Skyrim that replaces the capital of the northernmost Hold with a set of unique buildings. It's a popular choice among players seeking a more distinctive and lore-friendly Winterhold, with nearly 10,000 endorsements and over 2.3 million downloads.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Huge community trust with 9,737 endorsements and 2.3 million downloads — this is a proven favorite.
- Gives Winterhold a much-needed visual identity, replacing generic structures with unique architecture.
- From a reputable author (JPSteel2) known for quality city overhauls.
⚠️ Cons
- Last updated in January 2022 — may not be fully compatible with the latest Skyrim updates or other mods.
- Requires careful load order management to avoid conflicts with other city overhauls or mods that alter Winterhold.
- Only affects Winterhold — if you want overhauls for other cities, you'll need to download other mods in the series.
For Skyrim players who want a more visually distinct and lore-friendly Winterhold without a complete overhaul. If you're a fan of JPSteel2's other city mods or enjoy enhancing individual holds, this is a solid pick. Skip if you're looking for gameplay changes or a full-scale city overhaul covering multiple holds.
💡 Beginner Tips
- Place this mod in your load order after other city overhauls to ensure its changes take priority.
- Use a mod manager like Vortex or Mod Organizer 2 to easily manage and track the mod's files.
- Check for compatibility patches if you use other mods that alter Winterhold, such as The Great Cities or JK's Skyrim.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- Skyrim Mods
- Author
- JPSteel2
- Version
- 1.1
- Downloads
- 2,257,983
- Endorsements
- 9,737
- Category
- Cities, Towns, Villages, and Hamlets
- Created
- 9/4/2020
- Updated
- 1/26/2022
🔧 How to Install Skyrim Mods
Download from Nexus.
📖 Full step-by-step install guide for Skyrim →
Visit the official mod page for specific installation instructions for this mod.
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