9 real castles used by Disney as inspiration to create the palaces of their princesses

There is no story of fairy tales, medieval legends or chivalry without the presence of princesses in the narratives. Another element that cannot be missed are the castles. Without these huge buildings, sometimes of somber beauty, sometimes with a heavenly air, the stories would lose much of their charm. Disney has always been concerned with bringing all these dream elements to the cinema and has paid the most attention to the representation of their heroines’ castles. The result is surprising, on the same level as this immense challenge.

O awesome.club has compiled especially for you, the reader, a selection of the castles that inspired some of Disney’s classic animated cartoons. Check out!

Declared a World Heritage Site in 1985, the Alcázar de Segovia castle is one of Spain’s most important attractions. It has everything that comes to mind when you think of a castle: towers, noble halls, a Herrerian-style courtyard, a chapel, a moat and even a drawbridge. The first document that mentions its existence is from 1122 and, over the years, it has undergone several reforms. The current appearance is due to the intervention of Philip II.

Snow White’s Castle was undoubtedly inspired by the Alcázar. Just look at the photos of the place to prove it. Disney’s choice was successful, as those who watched the film will never be able to forget the image of the castle.

Neuschwanstein Castle is located in Bavaria, Germany. It was built by order of King Ludwig II of Bavaria in 1869, that is, at a time when it was no longer common to build castles and fortresses. The architecture is medieval in style and today the castle is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Germany.

Walt Disney used Neuschwanstein Castle as a model to create Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Park. It was opened in 1955 and is 23 meters high, although it seems taller, as it was designed using the technique of forced perspective.

Dunnottar Castle is in ruins, but the few buildings that remain date, according to estimates, to the 14th and 15th centuries. It is located in Scotland and currently belongs to the private sector. Every year it receives the visit of thousands of tourists.

Disney’s Pixar team was inspired by this castle to create that of Princess Merida, from the movie brave. The location is ideal, as the story of the feature takes place in Scotland, at the time of the Middle Ages.

The Little Mermaid is a 1989 Disney production, inspired by a short story by Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen. It narrates the love story between Ariel, a mermaid princess, who falls in love with a human prince named Eric, and who decides to leave the sea to live with him in his castle.

Disney, again, was inspired by a real castle to design the castle in the movie. This is the Chillon Castle, located in Switzerland, on the shores of Lake Lemán. It is a medieval building measuring 110 meters long, 50 meters wide and 25 meters high. The oldest part of the castle is Gothic in style and was built in the 13th century.

Princess Rapunzel, with her huge golden hair, is the protagonist of a fairy tale of the same name compiled by the Brothers Grimm. Disney brought the story to the big screen in 2010 in the movie rolled upand was a success with both critics and audiences.

Princess Rapunzel’s castle resembles not a castle but a monastery, the Mont Saint-Michel abbey, a Benedictine abbey located in the Normandy region. It was built in the Middle Ages and in 1979 it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

the movie story Aladdin is inspired by the tale Aladdin, which is part of the collection of traditional Middle Eastern stories, compiled in The one thousand and one nights. It premiered in 1992 and was both a box office and critical success. It has received several international awards, including two Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Music for A Whole New World.

The palace of the protagonist, Princess Jasmine, is inspired by the famous Taj Mahal building, a funerary monument built between 1631-1654 by order of the Muslim Emperor Shah Jahan, as a tribute to his late wife Mumtaz Mahal.

The film Mulan was inspired by Ballad by Fa Mu Lan. Before the invasion of the Huns, the Emperor of China ordered one man from each family to register with the imperial army, to be part of the resistance. To prevent her sick and senile father from being recruited, young Mulan disguises herself as a man and enlists in the army.

The Forbidden City (Beijing) is a palatial complex, built between 1406-1420, and was the official residence of the Emperors of China for nearly 500 years. As can be seen, it was used as a model by Disney to design the Emperor’s residence from the film.

The film Frozen a freezing adventure was inspired by the story d’the snow queen, by Hans Christian Andersen. It tells the story of Princess Elsa and Princess Anna in a beautiful ice fantasy. The film was released in 2013 and received two Oscars in the categories of Best Animated Film and Best Original Music for let it go.

The princess castle resembles Akershus Fortress, a military building complex located in Oslo, Norway. It was built in the Middle Ages and renovated in the 17th century. Today it is used as a school and accommodation for officers.

Considered one of the best animated films of all time, Beauty and the Beast It was the first Disney animated feature nominated for an Oscar in the Best Picture category. The story of the prince turned into a beast for not having love in his heart and the beautiful girl who will break the spell is, without a doubt, a great movie classic.

Chambord Castle is located in the Centre-Val de Loire region and was built between 1519-1539 in the Renaissance style. In 2000 it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. And without a doubt, it was considered the inspiration for the castle of Beauty and the Beast. Thanks to the success of the film, there was an increase in tourists visiting the place.

Which of these castles would you like to live in? Who would you choose as prince or princess? Please leave your opinion in the comments.