The fact that these places actually exist will make you believe in magic.
01. Movie: The Sultan’s Palace in Aladdin
Located right in the center of Agrabah near the Jordan River, the Sultan’s Palace is visible no matter where you are in town.
Disney
Inspiration: Taj Mahal in Agra, India
The Sultan’s Palace was loosely based on this architectural wonder in Agra, India. Although the Taj Mahal is a tomb, not a palace, we can see the inspiration come through in the movie’s storyline as well: For example, Aladdin has a pet monkey and Jasmine has a tiger — two animals Agra is known for.
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02. Movie: The Beast’s Castle in Beauty and the Beast
After a spell is cast on this Baroque-style castle, it becomes a dark and mysterious place—until Belle breaks the curse, that is.
Disney
Inspiration: Chateau De Chambord in Loir-Et-Cher, France
The Beast may have been cursed, but his castle was modeled after this elegant abode. The stunning château in central France is characterized by its distinctive French Renaissance architecture.
03. Movie: Small Village Square In Beauty And The Beast
Belle lives in a peaceful, secluded village filled with charming local vendors, such as a flower shop and a book store.
Inspiration: Alsace, France
04. Movie: Elsa’s Ice Palace In Frozen
Inspiration: Hôtel De Glace In Quebec City, Canada
If you spend the night in Quebec City’s ice hotel, we won’t blame you for belting out a verse or two of “Let it Go.” Being surrounded by snow vaults and crystalline ice sculptures will truly make you feel like a snow queen.
Pierre-Arnaud Kopp / Flickr Creative Commons
05. Movie: Dunbroch Castle In Brave
Inspiration: Eilean Donan Castle
Brave may be a fairytale, but the places that inspired Disney are very real. This iconic castle overlooks the sea on one side and rolling Scottish highlands on the other — just like DunBroch.
06. Movie: Pacha’s Village In The Emperor’s New Groove
As the leader of a poor village, Pacha lives in a hut at the top of a hill — the very spot Kuzco wants to build his ginormous summer home, Kuzcotopia.
Inspiration: Machu Picchu In Cusco, Peru
07. Movie: The Royal Castle In Sleeping Beauty
After being cursed by Maleficent, princess Aurora is placed under a sleeping spell inside this towering castle.
Inspiration: Neuschwanstein Castle In Bavaria, Germany
Not only did this striking castle provide inspiration for the movie, you can see a real-life version of Sleeping Beauty’s castle inspired by the German palace at Disneyland.
08. Movie: The Kingdom In Tangled
Rapunzel was born in Corona, an island topped by a towering castle and surrounded by the sea.
Inspiration: Mont Saint-Michel In Normandy, France
According to Disney art designer Laurent Ben-Mimoun, the movie took literal inspiration from Mont Saint-Mitchel to create a renaissance castle on an island that emulates the “peinture galante” style.
09.
Not only is real-life architectural influence evident in Mulan, it’s also based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan.
Inspiration: Forbidden City In Beijing, China
Mulan is thought to be set during the Han Dynasty, based on the traditional clothing the characters wear. However, Disney sought inspiration from this stunning landmark that would be built over 1,000 years later.
10. Movie: The Cathedral In The Hunchback Of Notre Dame
It’s safe to say that Bell ringer Quasimodo’s home is a very literal reinterpretation of a real-life Parisian landmark.
Inspiration: Notre Dame Cathedral In Paris
You guessed it: Producers visited France while they were developing The Hunchback of Notre Dame to explore every last nook and cranny of the famous cathedral.
11. Movie: Prince Eric’s Castle In The Little Mermaid
Located on the shores of a mountainous region, Prince Eric’s castle overlooks Ariel’s underwater home.
Inspiration: Chateau De Chillon In Lake Geneva, Switzerland
This historic monument dates back to the twelfth century and is thought to be the inspiration for Prince Eric’s Castle, given its lakeside location.
12. Movie: Queen’s Castle In Snow White
This classic fairytale castle is where the Queen plots to surpass Snow White as “the fairest in the land.”
Inspiration: Segovia Castle In Spain
Raised high above a rocky terrain, the Alcázar of Segovia has a distinctive shape that resamples the bow of a ship.
13. Movie: City In Atlantis: The Lost Empire
In this animated science fiction film, a young man and his crew journey to find the lost city of Atlantis.
Inspiration: Angkor Wat In Angkor, Cambodia
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