I hadn’t expected to be able to do another Andor related blog post so soon but having just watched the first few episodes of season 2 I realised that I’d already been to Chandrila…
Spoiler free! There are no spoilers for those who haven’t seen the first 3 episodes of Andor: A Star Wars Story season 2.
In the first episode there are opening shots of each planet as they’re introduced to the audience, with text on screen telling you what they are. Chandrila is the home planet of the Mon Mothma and her family estate is a grand complex built into the side of a mountain range.

There was something immediately familiar about the location, but I put it to the back of my mind while I enjoyed the episode. It was during the second episode that I thought, hang on – I’m pretty sure I know where that is. I already knew they’d filmed in Spain for this season, as there are shots of recognisable buildings in Valenica in the trailer. My suspicion was that it could well be an area called Montserrat, not far from Barcelona, Spain.

I dug out my old photos from a trip I made to Barcelona way back in April 2008. I’d taken a cheap EasyJet flight from Liverpool, checked into a budget hostel and enjoyed a few days on my own admiring all the stunning Gaudi architecture. On one day I took a train to visit Montserrat – famous for its monastery and mountain scenery. The photo above is one I took that day – it’s taken from a slightly different angle but that’s definitely the mountain range they digitally added the Mothma estate to.

I remember the monastery complex being set amongst impressive scenery and the Andor production team obviously took some inspiration from this for the series.
Looking through my photographs they don’t really do the location justice (I’d like to think my photography skills have improved a little over the past 17 years!).






An online article here confirms they did indeed use Montserrat, with executive producer Luke Hull saying “It’s just like a perfect Star Wars landscape. It’s soft rocks that don’t seem real or are not very common across the world.” Some location filming with actors took place there but all the the interiors where built at Pinewood Studios.
I remember the little funicular railway to one of the mountain peaks being a highlight. I didn’t have time to do any of the walking trails so didn’t venture too far from the station, but I’d love to go back and explore more.




The monastery was very impressive, with a grand basilica which is home to its famous Black Madonna and I did join the queue of tourists making the pilgrimage to walk by it. I was intrigued by the piles of discarded mobility aids by the exit where people apparently discarded them after being ‘cured’.






I doubt much has changed since my visit back in 2008, it was an easy train ride from Barcelona for anyone staying in the city. Obviously, there’s CGI used in the show to create the Mothma Estate, but the natural landscape is as gorgeous as it appears on the screen. I’m quite pleased that I’m able to tick off a new filming location without leaving the comfort of my sofa for a change!
From scene to seen 