In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, many locations across the world start out abandoned and overrun by monsters or bandits. These places look ruined at first, but once Geralt clears out every enemy, villagers return, and merchants and herbalists reopen their stalls. Exploring and freeing these abandoned sites not only makes the map more useful but also rewards you with XP, crowns, and new services that can help you on your journey.
All Abandoned Site Locations
In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, you’ll find lots of abandoned sites scattered across the map. When you first reach them, they’re usually taken over by monsters or bandits. But once Geralt clears out every enemy in the area, the place comes back to life, villagers return, the buildings get used again, and in many cases, a merchant, herbalist, or craftsman sets up shop. Basically, free the site from danger, and it turns into a useful little stop you can revisit later.
Velen & Novigrad
Velen was a province in northern Temeria, best known for the Aretuza Academy of Magic located near its capital, Gors Velen. Novigrad, on the other hand, is a free city inside Redania’s territory but doesn’t follow Redanian rule. It’s one of the biggest ports on the continent and home to almost 30,000 people, making it one of the largest cities in the North.
1. Abandoned Site Location
You’ll find this abandoned spot near a small fishermen’s hut west of Hangman’s Alley. When you arrive, the place will have lots of pirates. Clear them out, and the original residents return along with a herbalist you can trade with. You also earn 150 XP on Story and Swords! Difficulty, plus 50 Orens for freeing the camp.
2. Abandoned Site Location
This camp is northwest of Midcopse, hidden inside a ring of tents with a winged statue at the centre. It’s surrounded by forest on three sides, and the western side opens into a clearing that leads toward the Coast of Wrecks.
At first, the area is abandoned because a bunch of bandits have taken over. Take them out, and the place comes back to life as a home for refugees fleeing the war. A herbalist sets up shop here, too. You’ll earn 120 XP (Story and Swords!) and 50 Orens for liberating it.
3. Abandoned Site Location
Between the south of the refugee Camp, you’ll come across another site having pirates. Clear the pirates, and the villagers return along with a merchant. You earn 120 XP on Story and Swords! Difficulty and 50 Orens for restoring the area.
4. Abandoned Site Location
This abandoned village lies south of Byways. Bandits have overrun the place, but once you defeat them, the villagers move back in, along with a merchant. You’ll get 120 XP and 50 Orens for reclaiming it. You can fast travel to its harbour while sailing.
5. Abandoned Site Location
Located in southern Velen, this grove used to be a hotspot for herbalists and alchemists hunting for rare ingredients. Now it’s full of endregas. Clear the monsters, earn 120 XP and 50 Orens, and you’ll see villagers return to gather herbs. A herbalist also becomes available for trading.
6. Abandoned Site Location
Southeast of Crow’s Perch is a small abandoned spot filled with ghouls. Take them out, and the villagers will return, bringing a merchant with them. You’ll earn 120 XP for liberating the area, another 20 XP for destroying the monster nest, and up to 75 XP if you kill the “boss” monster.
7. Abandoned Site Location
West of Lurtch, you’ll find a crossroads taken over by renegades. Clear them out, and the place becomes home to refugees again, along with a herbalist and merchant. Geralt earns 120 XP plus 50 Orens for freeing the site.
8. Abandoned Site Location
South of Devil’s Pit and north of Lurtch, this harbour sits on the Pontar’s coastline. It’s full of drowners and drowned dead when you arrive. Once you deal with them, you earn 90 XP and 50 Orens, and the Nilfgaardian Army moves in with peasants working on the docks.
9. Abandoned Site Location
Just downriver from Oxenfurt Academy, this small watchtower is full of ghouls and an alghoul. Clear the monsters, and the Nilfgaardians take over the fort and the nearby ferry station. A merchant also opens a shop here. You receive 120 XP and 50 Orens for reclaiming it.
10. Abandoned Site Location
On the coast between Stonecutters’ Settlement and Oxenfurt Academy is another abandoned site, this one is full of drowners. After killing them, the illagers, a merchant, and Redanian soldiers return to the area. Geralt earns 120 XP and 50 Orens for liberating it.
White Orchard
White Orchard is a small Temerian village known for its beautiful fruit trees that bloom with white flowers every spring. The Ismena River runs right through the village and then flows northward.
11. Abandoned Site Location
When you first come across the Sawmill on Ard Skellig, the place looks completely abandoned and is full of drowners. Clear them out, and the area immediately comes back to life as people return to rebuild and get the sawmill running again. You’ll also earn 120 XP on Story and Swords! Difficulty and 50 crowns for restoring the site.
12. Abandoned Site Location
This next abandoned spot is taken over by ghouls when you arrive. Once you deal with them, the worshippers who used to gather here return, along with a helpful herbalist you can trade with.
