Whiterun ( Skyrim ) Whiterun ( Dovahzul : , " Hill - of - the - Dragons " ) is the capital city of Whiterun Hold , in the center of the province of Skyrim . In Whiterun , Nords live in the ' traditional ' manner : their lives are simple , harsh , and rooted in ancient traditions . Even the city ' s fortifications — wooden and stone palisade walls and the sheer defensive advantage offered by its position on a large bluff that raises the city above the surrounding tundra — are archaic by contemporary standards . Due to its central location , Whiterun serves as the commercial heart of Skyrim . History . Merethic Era . Whiterun is located on the eastern end of its Hold , in the tundra plains that fill the center of Skyrim . It was founded by Jeek of the River , who was the captain of Jorrvaskr . Upon discovery of the Skyforge , he and his men constructed the great mead hall of Jorrvaskr , which at the time was the sole structure on the bluff . Now , Whiterun is a large city , albeit one that retains the feel of a smaller Nord village . The central location and easy access make it one of the most successful cities in trade . First Era . When approaching Whiterun , the towering fortress of Dragonsreach dominates the view . Its history can be traced back to the First Era , when King Olaf One - Eye subdued the great dragon Numinex in a legendary duel of Thu ' um atop Mount Anthor and brought him back to the fledgling town as a captive . It was then that the magnificent keep was rebuilt and renamed to serve as a cage for Numinex , whose head still adorns the Great Hall . Gjalund was the Jarl of Whiterun sometime in the First Era . As Jarl , his holdings included Whiterun , Granite Hill , Rorikstead , Old H ' roldan , Bromjunaar , Korvanjund , Volunruud and Ivarstead . Sociology . Whiterun was once considered Skyrim ' s equivalent of the Imperial City , but in recent times has suffered from many problems . The Civil War , excessively harsh winters , harassment by Horme bandits , and the attacks of frost trolls have diminished the once - proud city . It ' s a strategic city for both the Imperial Legion and the Stormcloaks because of its central location , however Jarl Balgruuf the Greater remains neutral in the conflict . The city is home to two important dynastic families , the Grey - Mane s and the Battle - Born s . Once on good terms with one another , they are currently bitter enemies , as a result of their differing views on the civil war conflict , as well as the economic disparity between both clans , since the Battle - Borns are wealthy and the Gray - Manes are modest . Upon entering the city , the Dragonborn is able to choose a side , either Battle - Born or Grey - Mane , although this is not necessary to interact with the city ' s shops and temple . Whiterun is home to The Companions , a faction similar to the Fighters Guild of Cyrodiil . Their headquarters are in Jorrvaskr , a legendary mead hall that was built next to the Skyforge , an ancient forge that is said to be older than both men and Elves . The city of Whiterun itself was built around Jorrvaskr , which used to attract warriors from all across Tamriel . Due to The Companions ' reputation for being " over - glorified sellswords " , Jorrvaskr is no longer held in such esteem as it once was . Allegiance . Initially , Jarl Balgruuf claims that he has yet to decide who to join in the Civil War , making the city of Whiterun neutral , although he does claim to owe a favor to General Tullius , to whom he seems indebted . Balgruuf also suggests he owes a favor to Ulfric Stormcloak . There are however several indicators that suggest Whiterun is leaning more towards the Empire : City layout . Whiterun is composed of three districts : The Plains District . This is the first district any visitor to Whiterun enters , so named because it is the lowest of the three and therefore closest to the plains outside the city . It contains all the major merchants , the marketplace and Breezehome . The Wind District . The Wind District is where most of Whiterun ' s residential buildings ( including the mead hall Jorrvaskr and the Gildergreen ) are located and was named because of the strong mountain winds that gust through the area . The Cloud District . The Cloud District is the smallest of Whiterun ’ s three districts . It was so named because it is located atop the bluff Whiterun was built on and is therefore closer to the clouds than any other . It is dominated by the imposing form of Dragonsreach . Purchasable property . Breezehome , the house in Whiterun , costs 5000 and can be bought from the steward after the Jarl grants permission , in gratitude for retrieving the Dragonstone from Bleak Falls Barrow . The seller is either Proventus Avenicci or Brill , depending on who remains Jarl after the Civil War . Earning approval requires the performance of certain tasks around the city . You can also buy the decorations for your home from the Steward , such as a laboratory and storage space .