Takodana Castle, alternatively referred to as Maz Kanata's castle or simply Maz's castle, was built on the planet of Takodana beside the waters of Nymeve Lake. The pirate Maz Kanata was the proprietor of the castle until it met its end at the hands of the First Order during the Battle of Takodana, approximately thirty years following the Battle of Endor.
This stronghold, which was located near Nymeve Lake on Takodana, included a central hall and served as a gathering place for travelers, smugglers, criminals, and beings from every social class. It possessed sophisticated communication systems and sensor grids. The fortress also had dungeons, storage spaces, and catacombs beneath its main levels, which contained the graves of long-dead Jedi. A huge statue of Maz Kanata, a gift from her former husband, stood in the castle's courtyard.
The Jedi formerly inhabited Takodana Castle, and its catacombs held the tombs of Jedi Knights. It was said that the Jedi and Sith had fought there in the past on a battleground.
Maz Kanata took control of the castle around a thousand years before the First Order-Resistance war and turned it into a haven for anybody who came. As long as they abided by the rules, which forbade any form of violence, everyone was welcome at Maz's castle. As a result, the castle welcomed guests from all walks of life who could generally mingle without being concerned about being attacked. Kanata, assisted by the ancient droid "Emmie", personally made sure the regulations were followed; those who broke them were barred from future visits. To that end, guests to the castle were met by a sign that stated, "All are welcome. (No fighting.)"
The core tenet of Maz Kanata's fortress was "NO FIGHTING," and the warning was displayed in a variety of galactic languages. This implied that even people in serious difficulty, such as those with a bounty on their heads, could find sanctuary at the castle. However, such people would only receive one complimentary night of food, water, and lodging before having to pay a significant cost to stay. HURID-327 served as the castle's groundskeeper.
Around three decades following the Empire's defeat at Endor, the musicians of the Shag Kava Band, Sudswater Dillifay Glon, Infrablue Zedbeddy Coggins, Ubert Quaril, and Taybin Ralorsa, performed there. Shortly after, the First Order attacked the castle in an attempt to seize the droid BB-8, resulting in its destruction. Strono Tuggs, the head chef of the castle, considered its destruction to be a tragedy and decided to take his culinary career on the road after the battle. Eventually, he would be employed at Black Spire Outpost on the planet Batuu, where he would once again cross paths with First Order soldiers, much to his chagrin.
The 2015 film Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens marked the debut of Takodana Castle. It was initially revealed in May 2015 in a Vanity Fair article that was exclusive and featured images by Annie Leibovitz. The images highlighted a number of human, droid, and alien characters as well as one of the sets created for the castle.
The exterior of the castle in The Force Awakens is adorned with a plethora of flags, one of which bears the emblem of the real-world 501st Legion. The theatrical poster for Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope is hung on one of the walls of Maz's quarters in Star Wars: Complete Locations.
The Millennium Falcon travels over Derwent Water, which is located in the Lake District in northwest England, UK, as it approaches the castle.