Hogwarts Quidditch pitch

"Hundreds of seats were raised in stands around the pitch so the spectators were high enough to see what was going on. At either end of the pitch were golden poles with hoops on the end."

—The Quidditch Pitch^[src]

Hogwarts has its own Quidditch pitch where Quidditch teams could practice, hold try-outs and play matches against each other. Each year will see a total of six inter-house matches (each house competing for the Quidditch Cup), along with numerous training sessions by each house team ^[1].

Description[]

File:Quidditch Pitch.JPG

Hogwarts Quidditch pitch decorated for a Gryffindor vs. Slytherin match.

The stands surrounding the pitch are decorated differently for each Quidditch match at Hogwarts. Every second stand would be decorated with the colours of one team, and every other stand with the colors of the opposing team ^[2]. Spectators would sit in between these stands.

History[]

1995[]

"The Quidditch pitch was no longer smooth and flat. It looked as though somebody had been building long, low walls all over it, twisting and criss-crossing in every directions"

—The Hogwarts Quidditch pitch use in the Third Task^[src]

In 1995, tall hedges were grown on it in order for it to be used as the location of the Triwizard Tournament's Third Task.

1998[]

In 1998 the Quidditch field is burnt down by theSnatchers in the Battle of Hogwarts.

Behind the scenes[]

In the films, the pitch is very similar to the one described in the books, but the location of the pitch changes in every film. In first 3 films, it appears to be on the same side of the castle as the training grounds but down a hill. In Half-Blood Prince the pitch is closer to the lake down past Rubeus Hagrid's cabin.

File:Hogwarts' quidditch pitch-DH2.jpg

Hogwarts Quidditch pitch burning down.

Also in the films, the pitch is decorated with all of the school colors, as opposed to only the colors of the houses that are playing against each other. In addition there are two stands in the center of the pitch that are coloured in black and white.
In the third film, most of the decorations have been removed save for at the very tops of the stands, leaving most of the wooden frame exposed. While there is no official reason given, one possible explanation is that the were removed due to the rain so that they wouldn't get soaked and splash water onto the crowd.
In the first three films, the pitch only had sixteen stands, but in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince there are twenty and they are closer together.
In the second film a trench was added around the edge of the pitch for the scene where Harry is chased by the Rogue Bludger.
Death Eaters burn down the Quidditch pitch in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 during the Battle of Hogwarts.
During the Battle of Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, The Giants use the broken Quidditch Hoops as weapons.

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

Hogwarts Castle
Hogwarts grounds
Training Grounds · Secret room near the Training Grounds · Hagrid's cabin · Hagrid's pumpkin patch · Hagrid's garden · Secret Garden · Forbidden Forest · Hogwarts greenhouses · Stone Circle · Covered Bridge entrance · Quidditch Pitch · Incendio Challenge · Quidditch Gate · Broomshed · Entrance Gates · Entrance footpath · Pixie water well · Clock Tower Courtyard · Covered Bridge · Road to Hogwarts · Ravenclaw Duelling Arena · Quidditch Training Pitch · Gargoyle Gate · White Tomb · Black Lake · Ravine · Road to Hogsmeade · Lawn by Forbidden Forest · Path to Owlery · Path to the Whomping Willow · Locker rooms

[1] Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

[2] Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

[1]

[2]