What Disney Castles Look Like in Real Life And Where to Find Them

The various castles from Walt Disney animations are truly breathtaking fantasy structures. But did you know that many of these iconic Disney castles were inspired by real-life palaces around the world? From fairy-tale fortresses nestled in the Bavarian Alps to elegant châteaux in the French countryside, the real-world counterparts of Disney’s dreamy castles are just as enchanting. Here’s a look at the real life versions of many of the most famous castles in Disney cartoon history.

Sleeping Beauty’s Castle

The castle from Sleeping Beauty is one of the most iconic Disney images, despite looking a little different in the actual movie than in subsequent adaptations that appear in theme parks and on the company’s logo. This setting was based on a very real castle in Germany that still stands today.

Neuschwanstein Castle

Built in the 19th century, Neuschwanstein Castle is actually fairly similar to the Disneyland castle in terms of its intended purpose. It’s an example of historicism, where architects create a building to mimic the romanticized historical design of centuries past. Thus, this building looks like it came straight out of a fairytale, even though it’s relatively young by castle standards.

Corona Castle

Corona castle in Tangled is an impressive structure: a castle town that juts out of a relatively small island that can only be reached by boat or bridge. The surrounding water is the perfect place to launch hundreds of paper lanterns while commemorating a missing princess, or falling in love with a thief who has a heart of gold.

Mont-Saint-Michel

Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy, France, provided the inspiration for Corona’s castle. This very well-defended castle and abbey saw off English invaders time and again during the Hundred Years’ War between England and France in the Middle Ages, and to this day remains an impressive military achievement.