Ever caught yourself wishing you could actually visit the enchanting worlds of Disney? Do the rolling plains, the magnificent mountains and the breathtaking castles from those fairytales haunt your dreams?
What your dreams never knew, was that the sensational landscapes and castles in those Disney landscapes and edifices were all inspired from location in our very real and yet very magical world. Bored Panda brought us a list of where these 18 storybook vistas were born.
1. Sleeping Beauty – Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany
Built by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a personal tribute to Richard Wagner, his favourite composer, this magical castle inspired The Royal Castle in Sleeping Beauty.
2. Beauty And The Beast – Alcase, France
The warm village square from Beauty And The Beast that filled one’s heart with joy was a imagined based on Alsace, a picturesque region of North-Western France.
3. Tangled – Mont Saint Michael, Normandy, France
The unique island of Mont Saint Michael in Normandy, France is cut off from the mainland by tidal waters and was behind the conception of the Corona Kingdom of Tangled.
4. Up – Angela Falls, Venezuela
The Paradise Falls in Up were an inspiration from Angel Falls, falling from the mountain Auyantipui in Venezuela, also the world’s highest waterfall.
5. Aladdin – Taj Mahal, Agra, India
One of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal is not only a marvellous Indian monument, but also the idea behind The Sultan’s Palace in Aladdin.
6. The Emperor’s New Groove – Machu Picchu, Cusco, Peru
Pacha’s village in The Emperor’s New Groove was a reflection of Machu Picchu in Cusco Peru. This may also have been evident in how the Emperor himself was named Cusco in the movie!
7. Mulan – Forbidden City, China
The Emperor’s home in Mulan was inspired by The Forbidden City in China. A magnificent landmark in China, it made the colours in the story of the brave young girl shine even brighter.
8. The Hunchback of Notre Dame – Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France
The cathedral in The Hunchback of Notre Dame was none other than the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. A well-known monument to Gothic architecture, the cathedral’s influence in the film was unmissable.
9. Little Mermaid – Chateau De Chillon, Lake Geneva, Switzerland
Prince Eric lived in a castle inspired by the Chateau De Chillion on Lake Geneva in Switzerland. This chateau dating back to the Roman Empire, it is placed directly on the shores of the lake, making it the perfect fairytale setting.
10. Wreck- It-Ralph – Grand Central Terminal, New York City, USA
Game Central Station in Wreck-It-Ralph was a direct reflection not only in appearance, but also in nomenclature of the Grand Central Terminal in New York City in the USA.
11. Beauty And The Beast – Chateau De Chambord, Loir-Et-Cher, France
The Beast’s castle in Beauty And The Beast was inspired by the Chateau De Chambord in Loir-Et-Cher in France it has been said to have a peculiar roof, and a forest of chimneys and spires, making it the perfect mysterious and royal home to a cursed prince.
12. Frozen – St. Olaf’s Church, Balestrand, Norway
The enchanting chapel from Frozen was based on the St. Olaf’s Church in Balestrand, Norway. And this wasn’t the only inspiration Disney took from the Church – remember the adorable talking snowman in the film, Olaf?
13. Princess And The Frog – Louisiana bayous, USA
The real life swampy lakes, marshes and slow-moving rivers that characterize Louisiana were reflected in the beautiful bayou of New Orleans in Princess And The Frog.
14. Brave – Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland, UK
The Royal Castle in Brave from which Merida runs away bore a striking resemblance to the Eilean Donan Castle in Scotland. It was the perfect Scottish vista to set the royal Scottish girl’s story in.
15. Cars – U-Drop Inn, Shamrock, Texas, USA
The U-Drop Inn in Texas, USA was a curious structure inspired, of all things, by a nail stuck in the soil. And this very inspiration led us to the conception of Ramone’s House of Body Art in the Disney heart-melter, Cars.
16. Atlantis: The Lost Empire – Angkor Wat, Angkor, Cambodia
The city of Atlantis in Atlantis: The Lost Empire was a imagined with the Angkor Wat of Angkor, Cambodia in mind. Though Atlantis was based on a legendary sunken Greek island, this visual inspiration was fitting and rather beautifully so.
17. Frozen – Hotel De Glace, Quebec City, Canada
There is a Hotel De Glace in Quebec City, Canada that inspired Elsa’s glass palace in Frozen, and it is in fact made of actual bricks of ice. How bad do you want to visit this place?
18. Snow White – Segovia Castle, Spain
The Evil Queen’s castle in Snow White was inspired by the Alcazar of Segovia, a castle in Spain. It has the quaint beauty and mystery, as well as the snowy forests surrounding it that one could lose themselves in. Perfection indeed.
