In childhood each of us had our favorite cartoons that we watched, imagining myself in the field of the main characters, hoping to get to the magical land, a fairytale castle and enchanted forest. Today we propose to explore real castles, palaces and the abandoned cities that inspired the creators of the cartoons Studio “Disney.” To see Sleeping beauty’s castle, to visit the tower, where he languished Rapunzel to explore the castle of Atlantis and walk through the streets of the village, where she lived, Belle from “beauty and the beast,” you should visit these places.
1. Abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel in France — the castle tower where Rapunzel is enclosed
Photo: © Disney
The prototype of the castle from the cartoon “Rapunzel: a Tangled tale” was the island fortress of Mont Saint-Michel (Le Mont-Saint-Michel) in Normandy, in Northern France. The Abbey and the town around it exist on the island since the 8th century, and today they are included in the world heritage list of UNESCO and is considered one of the most popular sights of France. From the walls of the 14th century one can observe the ebb and flow, which every day cut off the island from the mainland. On top of the cliff is the Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel is a unique place with a huge Cathedral, jousting halls, and porticoes, crypts, built in the 10th-15th centuries.
2. The Taj Mahal in India — the Palace of the Sultan in “Aladdin”
Photo: © Disney
The creation of the magical city of Agrabah, the creators of the cartoon “Aladdin” was inspired by the Indian city of Agra where on the banks of the river Yamuna (Jumna) is one of the wonders of the world — the mausoleum-mosque Taj Mahal. It was built in 1653 by Sultan Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth. The tombs of the Shah and his wife are buried in the main hall of the mosque. The Taj Mahal combines elements of Indian, Persian and Arab architectural styles. And walls of translucent white marble, encrusted with gems change color depending on the lighting.
3. The temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia — “Atlantis: the Lost Empire”
Photo: © Disney
At the Atlantis in the animated film “Atlantis: the Lost Empire” is really existing prototype — the world’s largest religious complex Angkor Wat, which lies on the North-East of Cambodia, 5 kilometers from Siem reap city (Siem Reap). A huge Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and the structure around it was built by king Suryavarman II in the 12th century. Already in the 15th century, the Church was no longer used and was abandoned. In the 19th century he was rediscovered by European travellers and has since become so popular that it is portrayed on the flag and emblem of Cambodia. Angkor Wat — a unique temple complex with a huge bas-reliefs on the theme of Hindu mythology and Khmer history and hundreds of sculptures of gods and celestial maidens.
4. The alcázar of Segovia, Spain — the Palace of the king in “snow white and the seven dwarfs”
Photo: © Disney
The creation of the castle, where she lived with her father and evil stepmother of Snow white, the creators of the cartoon was inspired by the alcázar (Alcázar de Segovia) is a Palace and fortress of Spanish kings in Segovia, in Central Spain. This Palace, built in the 12th century, stands on top of a cliff at the confluence of two rivers. It was built by the Moors as a fortress, after captured by the Spaniards, was the Royal residence and now a Museum. The Palace was built in Hispano-Moorish style, the old buildings a little less than a thousand years. There are portraits, furniture and collections of weapons of the Spanish kings. Throne room, like many others, preserved as it was created in the 15th century for the coronation of monarchs.
5. Angel falls Venezuela — Paradise falls from the movie “Up”
Photo: © Disney
In full-length animated film “Up” which received the “Oscar” in 2009, the main characters dream of a lifetime to go to South America and see Paradise falls. To create it, the Studio’s animators spent several weeks at the angel falls (Salto Ángel), the world’s largest waterfall with a height of 979 meters. He is in Venezuela, in the Canaima national Park (Canaima), where falling down the mountain auyantepui (Auyan-tepui). The waterfall is so high that most of the water breaks into small droplets and becomes mist, failing to reach the ground. Due to this, several kilometers of forest around the waterfall is constantly shrouded in thick fog.
6. Inca city Machu Picchu — Cuzco Empire in “the Adventures of the Emperor”
Photo: © Disney
The creation of the village where Pacha lives, the authors of the cartoon “Adventures of the Emperor”, was inspired by the abandoned Inca city of Machu Picchu, located in Peru, in 6 kilometrage settlement calientes (Aguas Calientes). This amazing city was built on the top of a mountain ridge at an altitude of 2450 meters in 1440. Abandoned in 1532, for some unknown reason and for 400 years remained in ruins. He was found in perfect condition American researchers in 1911. The town has a Palace and the house of nobles, a temple where human sacrifices, houses and towers to practice astronomy. Still don’t know the real name of the city nor the number of inhabitants, nor why he was abandoned.
7. Neuschwanstein castle in Germany — the king’s castle in “Sleeping Beauty” and “Cinderella”
Photo: © Disney
Neuschwanstein castle (Schloss Neuschwanstein), one of the most beautiful castles in Europe, appeared as cartoons. He became Walt Disney’s prototype for the Palace in “Cinderella” and “Sleeping beauty”, and also appears on the splash screen and the logo of Disney. The castle stands on a rock surrounded by forest, near the town of füssen (Füssen) in Germany, near the Austrian border. All other castles that inspired animators, Neuschwanstein is different in that it’s not a real medieval castle, and a romantic fantasy of king Ludwig II, implemented in 1886. The monarch, who loved stories and loved operas of Wagner, decided to build himself a real knight’s castle in a medieval style, with rooms decorated with paintings and tapestries based on your favorite sagas. Unfortunately, Ludwig II was not able to see the embodiment of his dreams — he died when the castle was still being built. During the Second world war it kept the gold of the Reichsbank, and now there is a Museum.
8. Dunnottar castle in Scotland, castle Danbro in “Braveheart”
Photo: © Disney
Castle Danbro cartoon was created in the image of a medieval castle Dunnottar (Dunnottar Castle), which stands on an impregnable rock, surrounded by the sea, on the East coast of Scotland. The first fortress was built here already in the 7th century. Over the centuries the castle was besieged by the Vikings, the Scots and the troops of the king of England, here was the headquarters of the resistance and the Royal residence. In Dannemare preserved 11 buildings of the 13th century, several secret passages and caves. The castle is famous for its ghosts — most tourists found the girl in a green dress, a Viking and a huge Greyhound.
9. Village of the Alsace region in France — the village from “beauty and the beast”
Photo: © Disney
The prototype of the native village Belle was the French Alsace region on the border with Germany, famous for its white wine and architecture fachtwerk. It is not known which town or village were inspired by the creators of the cartoon, so I advise you to visit Riquewihr (Riquewihr), Bergheim (Bergheim), Mittelbergheim (Mittelbergheim) and Eguisheim (Eguisheim), which are included in the list of “Most beautiful villages of France”. In each of them you will find colorful medieval houses, the mill on the river, Central square with fountain, wine cellars and endless grape fields.
10. The Church of St. Olaf in Balestrand, Norway — the Church in the “Cold heart”
Photo: © Disney
Church of the cartoon, where the coronation of Elsa, almost repeats the details of the wooden Church of St. Olav (St. Olafs kirke), built in 1897 in Balestrand (Balestrand) in Norway. The Church imitates the style of a medieval timber frame Scandinavian churches. Outside it is decorated with spires, a turret and carved dragon heads, and inside — carving and dozens of stained glass. After the release of the cartoon Church.Olaf has become a very popular tourist destination, especially among couples from all over the world who seek to marry here.
11. Manchak swamp in Louisiana, USA — the swamp in “the Princess and the frog”
Photo: © Disney
The action of the cartoon “the Princess and the frog” takes place in New Orleans, where the key locations repeat really existing streets and buildings, as well as in swamps, where the main characters meet new friends. Swamp cartoon with huge trees, overgrown with moss, and alligators lurking in muddy water, exist in the real world — in Louisiana, hundreds of them. Especially popular with tourists murky swamps Manchak (Manchac Swamp), which lies near New Orleans. To explore these places alone is dangerous, but for tourists there are day and night tours by boat during which the guide tells the city’s history, neighborhoods and terrible tales of swamp ghosts and witches.
12. Chambord castle in France the castle of the beast in “Beauty and the beast”
Photo: © Disney
The creators of the cartoon were inspired by different regions of France. The basis of the beast’s castle was taken Chambord (Chateau de Chambord) is one of the most beautiful castles of the Loire Valley. It was built on the orders of king Francis I in the 16th century in the French Renaissance style and is now listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO. The roof of the castle is unique — there, among the dozens of carved turrets, decorated chimney and medallions, located on a large terrace. The design of the Central spiral staircase were designed by Leonardo da Vinci, and all 426 rooms of the castle richly decorated with an abundance of gold, carvings and moldings.
13. The island of Kauai, Hawaiian Islands — Hawaii “Lilo and Stitch”
Photo: © Disney
In cartoon girl Lilo lives in Hawaii, which Islands, in the cartoon is not specified. The real prototype cartoon island was Kauai (Kauai) — the oldest of the Hawaiian Islands, in the centre of which rises the extinct volcano. This place is considered one of the rainiest in the world. Most of the coastline of the island consists of sandy beaches, surrounded by palm groves. And the creation of hometown Lil, Kokaua, the creators of the cartoon inspired Hanapepe city (Hanapepe), lying in a valley with waterfalls.
14. Castle Chillon in Switzerland — the castle of Prince Eric in “the little Mermaid”
Photo: © Disney
The prototype of the castle of Prince Eric, fell in love with the little Mermaid, became the medieval castle of Chillon (Chateau de Chillon), stands at the shore of lake Geneva, 3 km from Montreux (Montreux) in Switzerland. The castle was very popular in the 18th and 19th centuries — wrote about him Victor Hugo, Alexander Dumas and George Byron. Chillon stands on a cliff overlooking the lake, with the shore it connects the stone bridge. Most of the castle buildings were erected in the 12th century, some towers were built in the 13-14 centuries. We suggest to visit inside the castle — there you will find a perfectly preserved medieval halls and chapel, with a magnificent view of the lake from the Windows.
Text: Olga Perepelitsa