If you don’t know where to go on vacation, you can take a tour of the “fairy-tale” places in Europe.
Very often, creators are inspired by the objects they see in the world around them. One of the most striking examples of this is Disney’s animated films. In many of these films, you can see fairy-tale castles and towns that are based on real European architectural landmarks. Travel off Path has compiled a list of such places in Europe that have been featured in Disney’s animated films.
So, if you love cartoons and tourism, here are 7 paintings and 7 real places that you should see with your own eyes:
“Sleeping Beauty” – Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany. Located in the German Alps, on a high hill surrounded by green nature and snow-capped peaks, Neuschwanstein Castle bears a striking resemblance to the castle of Sleeping Beauty. It was once the residence of the Bavarian king, who built it not for defense against enemies, but to satisfy his own sense of beauty.Video of the dayad
Frozen – Halstatt, Austria. The snow-covered kingdom of Arendelle, where the events of Frozen take place, bears a striking resemblance to a picturesque town in Austria that has preserved its old architecture, making it an open-air museum.
“Beauty and the Beast” – The town of Riquier, France. One of the most famous films in the Disney collection, “Beauty and the Beast”, is filled with references to France. An obvious reference is the village of Beauty, which is based on Riquier in Alsace.
“Luca” is a city in the Cinque Terre region of Italy. The setting for the story is the fictional town of Portorosso in Italy. It was heavily inspired by the Cinque Terre region, which is known for its distinctive pastel-colored facades and postcard-worthy harbors.
The Little Mermaid – Chillon Castle, Switzerland. Although The Little Mermaid is a character from a Danish fairy tale, Disney’s animated film features a Swiss castle on a lake where the fairy-tale prince resides.
“Rapunzel: A Tangled Tale” – Mont Saint-Michel, France. In the cartoon, there is a fortified citadel with high towers and surrounded by water. The place looks like something out of a fairy tale and impossible in the real world. However, the paradox is that this place exists in the real world and it does look a bit absurd and unreal. The Mont Saint-Michel complex is located on an island off the northern coast of France. And during high tide, this place is surrounded by water.
Braveheart – Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland. The cartoon takes place in many locations that have their own counterparts in our world. However, the most notable location is Eilean Donan Castle, a highland castle located on a small island at the confluence of three lakes.
“Pinocchio” – the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany. This little-known town in the German countryside retains a significant portion of its medieval architecture. It’s no surprise that it inspired the studio’s artists to incorporate it into their classic cartoon.
