Canterlot

Canterlot is a city first featured in the series' first episode as the residence of Twilight Sparkle, where she studies under Princess Celestia. Rarity describes it as a glamorous and sophisticated city and says she'd always dreamed of living there. The city holds the royal castle and it is the site of important cultural events, like the Grand Galloping Gala. The name of the city is a portmanteau of "canter", a three-beat horse gait, and Camelot from Arthurian legends.

Depiction in the series
Lauren Faust's inspiration for Canterlot, with its castle carved into the side of the mountain, was Minas Tirith from the Lord of the Rings. The city features ivory towers with golden spires, and many waterfalls and rivers running through it.

The distance between Canterlot and Ponyville is traveled by Twilight Sparkle in a short time, riding in a flying chariot driven by the Pegasus royal guards in Friendship is Magic, part 1. Princess Celestia travels much the same way in Swarm of the Century, and in Sweet and Elite Rarity's friends manage to get from Ponyville to Canterlot within a day.

Many high-society ponies in the show hail from Canterlot, including Photo Finish, Hoity Toity, Sapphire Shores and Fancypants. The episode Sweet and Elite, takes place in Canterlot, and it features coffee shops, a racetrack, a theater, an art exhibit, and a high-class restaurant. In the episode, the vast majority of the residents of Canterlot are unicorns. In The Last Roundup, the episode depicts a train station there, and even the national Equestria Rodeo Competition is being held annually in Canterlot.

The city is also home to Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, which is featured in The Cutie Mark Chronicles, where Twilight Sparkle began her studies under Princess Celestia.

Canterlot hosts the Grand Galloping Gala, a formal royal ball attended by only select ponies, which is mentioned throughout the series in The Ticket Master, Suited For Success, Sweet and Elite, and features in the episode The Best Night Ever. Another high society event is the Canterlot garden party, held at the castle, and a very exclusive event that Rarity says is second to only the Grand Galloping Gala. It is portrayed in Sweet and Elite.

Other depictions
Canterlot is featured in the online Flash game Castle Creator.

Gallery

 * Canterlot image gallery