Do You Recognise These Real Places That Inspired Disney Movies?

While the fairytale settings of the Disney and Pixar movies are generated by the amazing creative minds of the animators, many of them are inspired by real places around the world. Let's investigate shall we?

1 Alsace, France

They looked to the charming villages of France's smallest region for inspiration for Little Town in Beauty and The Beast.

2 Forbidden City, Beijing, China

3 Ashdown Forest, England

Winnie the Pooh creator, A.A. Milne based his Hundred Acre Wood on Ashdown Forest near his home, so it was a natural progression for the movie

4 Cotchford Farm, England

And the "Pooh Sticks" bridge actually exists too.

5 The French Laundry, USA

Ratatouille may have been set in Paris but the inspiration for the restaurant came from as far away from the French capital as you can imagine. It was based on the highly respected restaurant of master chef Thomas Keller, which is in the Napa Valley, CA

6 Machu Picchu, Peru

Do the mountains of Pacha's village in the Emperor's New Groove look familiar to you? They should; they're based on one of the most famous sights in the world.

7 New Orleans, USA

There's simply no denying that The Princess and The Frog is set in The Big Easy.

8 U-Drop Inn, USA

In Cars, Ramone's House of Body Art in the fictional town of Radiator Springs is based on the U-Drop Inn, an Art Deco rest stop in Shamrock, Texas.

9 Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland

Merida’s DunBroch Castle was drawn from the 13th-century Eilean Donan Castle on Scotland's west coast.

10 Akershas Fortress, Norway

Recognize Anna and Elsa's castle home in Frozen? That was just the outside ...

11 Stiftsgården, Norway

The interior of the castle was based on rooms inside Stiftsgården, in Trondheim. And ...

12 Bryggen, Bergen, Norway

... was the inspiration for the town of Arendelle. And lastly for Frozen ...

13 Hôtel De Glace, Quebec, Canada

The inspiration for Elsa's frozen palace.

14 Angel Falls, Venezuela

Paradise Falls in Up! were modeled on The world's tallest waterfall, Angel Falls.

15 Mont St. Michel, France

Obvious yes? It's Rapunzel's parents' castle in Tangled.

16 Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Art Director for Atlantis has stated that the lost city of Atlantic is based loosely on the incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site.

17 Chateau Du Chambord, France

The Beast's castle in Beauty and the Beast.

18 Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo, USA

The side on silhouettes of the Cadillacs are echoed in Cars as the Cadillac Range of mountains.

19 Château De Chillon, Veytaux, Switzerland

Prince Eric’s castle in The Little Mermaid

20 Alcázar De Segovia, Segovia, Spain

The Queen's castle in Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs.

21 Neuschwanstein Castle, Schwangau, Germany

Walt Disney visited this castle and it inspired both Sleeping Beauty's and Cinderella's castles with influences drawn from other castles too, including Schloss Hochenschwagenau.

22 The Serengeti, Africa

The obvious and natural setting for The Lion King.

23 The Taj Mahal, Agra, India

Although the movie is based in the Middle East, in Aladdin, the Sultan's palace is based in look on the famous Taj Mahal.

24 Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Finding Nemo starts in the waters of the reef

25 The Harbor, Sydney, Australia

And Nemo ends in Sydney's world famous harbor

26 Kauaʻi, Hawaii, USA

The stunning setting for Lilo and Stitch.

27 Notre Dame, Paris, France

The Hunchback of Notre Dame - the title kinda gives it away ^_^

28 Bloomsbury, London, England

The location of the Darling family home in Peter Pan

29 Old Faithful Inn, Yellowstone National Park, USA

The Grand Fusel Lodge, Piston Peak National Park in Planes: Fire and Rescue

30 Theater of Epidaurus, Greece

Proscineum in Hercules

Are you now going to rewatch the movies to match the real locations to the fairytale locations?