In childhood, each of us had favorite cartoons, which we used to revised again and again and to pretend ourselves like the main characters. And today we offer to go on a journey through real fortresses, palaces and abandoned cities that inspired the creators of the Disney cartoon films. To see the Sleeping Beauty Castle, visit the tower of Rapunzel, to explore the castle of Atlantis and to walk around the streets of the village where Belle lived from Beauty and the Beast, you should visit these places.
Photo by Skylar Sahakian
1. Abbey of Mont Saint Michel in France – a castle with a tower, where is Rapunzel
The prototype of the castle of the cartoon “Rapunzel: A Tangled Story” was the island-fortress of Mont Saint-Michel (Le Mont-Saint-Michel) in Normandy, in northern France. The abbey and the town around it have existed on the island since the 8th century. Nowadays, this is one of the most popular attractions of France and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the top of the cliff is located the abbey of Mont Saint-Michel – a unique place with a huge cathedral and knightly halls.
Photo by Bharat Patil
2. Taj Mahal in India – the palace of the Sultan in “Aladdin”
The creators of the cartoon “Aladdin” were inspired by one of the wonders of the world, the Indian city of Agra(located on the banks of the Jumna River (Taj Mahal)) to create the magical city of Arab. It was built in 1653 by padishah Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth. The tombs of the Shah and his wife rest in the main hall of the mosque. The Taj Mahal combines elements of Indian, Persian and Arab architectural styles. And its walls of white translucent marble inlaid with gems, that change color depending on the lighting.
Photo by Koushik Chowdavarapu
3. Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany – King’s Castle in “Sleeping Beauty” and “Cinderella”
Neuschwanstein is one of the most beautiful castles in Europe, which has repeatedly appeared in cartoons. He became the prototype for Walt Disney for the palaces in Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, and also appears on the logo of the Disney studio. The castle stands on a rock surrounded by a forest, near the town of Füssen in Germany, near the Austrian border. From all the other castles that inspired animators, Neuschwanstein is distinguished by the fact that this is not a real medieval castle, but the romantic fantasy of King Ludwig II realized in 1886. The monarch, who loved fairy tales and adored Wagner’s operas, decided to build himself a real knight’s castle in the medieval style. Unfortunately, Ludwig II did not have time to see the embodiment of his dream – he died when the castle was not finished. During World War II, gold from the Reichsbank was kept in it, and now there is a museum.
Photo by Massimiliano Morosinotto
4. The villages of the Alsace region in France – the village of “Beauty and the Beast”
The prototype of the native village of Belle was the French region of Alsace on the border with Germany, known for its white wine and fachwerk architecture. Nobody knows exactly which town or village inspired the creators of the cartoon, so we advise you to visit Riquewihr, Bergheim, Mittelbergheim and Eguisheim, which are included in the list of the most beautiful villages in France. In each of them, you will find colorful medieval houses, a mill on the river, the central square with a fountain, wine cellars, and endless grape fields.
Photo by Iga Palacz
5. Chillon Castle in Switzerland – Prince Eric’s Castle in “The Little Mermaid”
The prototype of the castle of Prince Eric, in which the Little Mermaid fell in love, was the medieval castle of Chillau (Chateau de Chillon), standing on the shores of Lake Geneva, 3 kilometers from the city of Montreux in Switzerland. The castle was very popular in the 18-19 century – Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, and George Byron wrote about it. Chillon stands on a rock towering above the lake, with a stone bridge connecting it to the shore. Most of the castle buildings were built in the 12th century, some towers were completed in the 13-14 centuries. We advise you to go inside the castle – there are well-preserved medieval halls and a chapel, as well as a magnificent view of Lake Geneva from the windows.
Photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel
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