The rise of High King Olaf One-Eye, who expanded Skyrim's boundaries when he conquered the Reach, saw that the city be turned over to Nord control. Following the disappearance of the Dwemer from the face of Nirn after they attempted to control the power of the Numidium, Markarth was abandoned until the natives of the Reach known as Reachmen, moved into the city. Markarth was the former city of Nchuand-Zel, belonging to the ancient Dwemer (also known as the Dwarves) who resided in Morrowind, Skyrim, HammerfellВ and High Rock during the Merethic EraВ and First Era. Most of the city's residents tend to be quite unfriendly to outsiders. The Jarl's palace, Understone Keep, is located at the top of the city and contains the Hall of the Dead, the Dwemer Museum, and the Nchuand-Zel Excavation SiteВ where the internal part of the old Dwemer city remains in ruins.

The city is split by a large running river and comprises two parts: Riverside, where the native Reachmen and the working district are found and the Dryside, housing all the houses of Nord nobles and Silver-Blood ownership. Being a long distance from any other major city and with both main roads cutting through mountains, valleys and rugged terrain, venturing to and from Markarth is one of the most treacherous trips for travelers. As a result, the city has a good natural defense, even from the skies. The cutthroat intrigue surrounding Markarth's silver producing industry popularized the local saying, 'Blood and silver are what flows through Markarth.' The city is located in the far west of Skyrim, in the mountains of The Reach, west of the Karth River. It is known for its rich silver mines that use convict labour, which are mostly owned by the influential Silver-Bloods family. Markarth, also known as Markarth Side, is one of the many major cities in Skyrim. 'Nothing ever changes in the City of Stone, and that's just fine.' вЂ• Amanda Alleia

The people of skyrim