An important gathering place and a big inn in Bree, The Prancing Pony was the place where Sam, Pippin, Frodo Baggins, and Merry had met for the first time. Bree was a fictional village portrayed in Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’. It was quite famous among travelers and used to serve locals as well.
Description
The Prancing Pony was situated at the center of the village at the base of the Bree hill where the East Road had a bend. The building had three stories with multiple windows. The front faced the road, and the other two wings were towards the back facing the elevated surface of the hill, and the second floor was at the ground level at the end. There was a courtyard between the wings that could be accessed through an archway. A few steps under the arch led to the main door. A lamp above the arch illuminated the signboard with a fat pony in white rearing on its hind legs. There was also an inscription in white letters over the door ‘The Prancing Pony by Barliman Butterbur’. The inside of the building had numerous rooms on the ground floor specially made for the Hobbit guests. A big common room served drinks, and the inn was famous for its excellent beer that Gandalf had once sampled.
History
The Prancing Pony is notable for two important events related to the War of the Ring. Gandalf and Thorin Oakenshield had met here coincidentally which later resulted in the destruction of Smaug. Another incident took place when Frodo Baggins traveled to Rivendell. He had stayed at The Prancing Pony for a night with his companions. Frodo sang a song and pun on the One Ring after which he became invisible, and the Black Riders attacked the inn. Aragorn rescued him and his team. In the Third Age, the inn was visited by Gandalf who had left a letter for Baggins but Barliman Butterbur, the manager, had forgotten to deliver it. [1] When Gandalf visited again, he became angry at this forgetfulness. He learned that the Hobbits were alive and safe and had forgiven butterbur.
References
Categories:
Inns
