Living like a princess was a dream for almost every one of us in our childhood, imagining ourselves running through the castle halls, dancing with a prince, wearing beautiful dresses, and living a life straight from a fairy tale where you will live happily ever after. Did you know that you can actually find some of these movie castles? Yes, you can, so if you’re planning to visit countries like Germany, Switzerland, China, India, France, you must visit these beautiful castles that will make you live your own Disney fantasy.
Here are some of the most beautiful temples and castles that inspired Disney and that you must add to your travel list to feel like a real princess.
Taj Mahal – Aladdin
Besides being one of the Seven Wonders of the World, this gorgeous building located in India inspired the one where Jasmine, from Aladdin, lives with her father. Constructed between 1631 and 1648 it’s a mausoleum that the emperor Shah Jahan commanded to build in memory of her favorite wife that perished giving birth to her fourteenth daughter.
Neuschwanstein – Sleeping Beauty/Cinderella
In Schwangau, Germany, you’ll be able to find this enormous castle, inaugurated in 1884. The castle served as an inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty movie but also looks like the Cinderella one.
It used to be the abode of the ‘Fairy Tale King’, Ludwig II of Bavaria. He was obsessed with palaces and castles, so much that he had hallucinations with these buildings. As a result of his obsession, he wanted to live in his own illusion, and this castle came out of his dreams. Nowadays is one of the most visited castles of Europe.
Alcazár of Segovia – Snow White
This medieval castle dating back from the XII century is one of the most visited in Segovia, Spain. With amazing gothic architecture, this castle became the inspiration for the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs movie where the Evil Queen lives. It was originally built to serve as a fortress but has served as a royal palace, a prison, and a Royal Artillery College.
Chillon Castle – The Little Mermaid
An island castle located on Lake Geneva, Switzerland, was the inspiration to create Prince Eric’s house in The Little Mermaid. Built to protect a way that leads to the Alps, being on an island was perfect for the movie and for Ariel being a mermaid to get to visit Eric. Has been a military site since the Roman period.
Mont-Saint-Michel – Tangled
This tidal island in Normandy, France, was the inspiration for the kingdom of Tangled, periodically this island is separated from the mainland by the tide and this made it the ideal place for the movie. It’s a very visited place in France.
Images: Unsplash / Wikicommons / Disney
