The magical places that inspired magical movies - The magical places that inspired magical movies

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Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany - This beautiful (and haunting) fairytale castle in Germany was built by the Mad King Ludwig in 1869. He used the help of a stage designer instead of an architect.

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Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany -

Walt Disney saw the castle on a trip to Bavaria with his wife and was inspired to add it to his movies.

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'Sleeping Beauty' -

The castle from 'Sleeping Beauty' has a lot of similarities, and some say it also inspired the castle in 'Cinderella.' 

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Livraria Lello, Portugal -

This fantastical bookshop found in Portugal's northern capital, Porto, is one of the oldest in the world.

It's said that J.K. Rowling was inspired by this bookshop when creating the world of Harry Potter. She lived in the city of Porto for two years, but recently stated that she has never been to this library. 

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'Harry Potter' -

The Flourish and Blotts bookshop in the Harry Potter movie series certainly has a similar aesthetic. Could it be just a coincidence? 

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Alsace, France - The Alsace region in France is famous for its wines and its magical little villages.

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Alsace, France -

Riquewihr (pictured here) in particular bears a striking resemblance to the town in 'Beauty and the Beast.' 

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'Beauty and the Beast' -

These picturesque towns were the inspiration for the animators of the 1991 animated version of the movie, as well as the recent adaption starring Emma Watson. 

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Castle Chillon, Switzerland -

 This castle on the shores of Lake Geneva is said to be the inspiration for Prince Eric's castle in 'The Little Mermaid.'

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'The Little Mermaid' -

Although it sits beside a lake instead of the sea, you can almost imagine Ariel emerging from the water! 

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Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland - This craggy Scottish manor has been a filming location for several impressive productions such as the show 'Highlander' and a James Bond movie.

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'Brave' -

Most recently it's said to have been the blueprint for Castle DunBroch in the Disney movie 'Brave.'

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Le Mont-Saint Michel, France -

Le Mont-Saint Michel is an incredible walled city on a tidal island in Northern France.

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'Tangled' -

The magical hilltop castle inspired Rapunzel's tower in the movie 'Tangled.' 

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Taj Mahal, India - The Taj Mahal is one of the most famous architectural masterpieces in the world. It's no surprise that Walt Disney found inspiration here.

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'Aladdin' -

The palace in the movie 'Aladdin' is based on the Taj Mahal. 

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Bora Bora, French Polynesia - The magnificent tropical islands of French Polynesia are known for their dazzling turquoise waters and lush green islands.

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'Moana' -

The setting for the 2016 Disney movie  'Moana' is based on this stunning location. 

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Ha Long Bay, Vietnam -

The beautiful coastline of Vietnam can look a little ominous when the fog is heavy. 

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'Kong: Skull Island' -

It was the perfect setting to film the most recent King Kong movie, 'Kong: Skull Island.'

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Ashdown Forest, England -

British children's author A.A. Milne found inspiration for his books in observing the adventures his son, Christopher Robin, had in the forest by their home in East Sussex. 

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'Winnie the Pooh' -

He went on to write the 'Winnie the Pooh' series which starred a boy called Christopher Robin who played in the Hundred Acre Wood with his animal companions. The books were turned into several films over the years. 

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The Forbidden City, China - The Forbidden City was built in Beijing in 1420 and is the largest and best preserved imperial palace in the world.

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'Mulan' -

The Emperor's palace in the movie 'Mulan' is based on this historic structure. 

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Amboseli National Park, Kenya - The Amboseli National Park in Kenya is an enormous nature preserve, home to the wildest of wildlife. It sits beside Mount Kilimanjaro and has incredible views of the world's tallest mountain.

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'The Lion King' -

While many African countries are said to have inspired the landscape for the 'Lion King,' there's an unmistakable shot of Mount Kilimanjaro in the film's opening number.

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Lohr Castle, Germany -

The story of Snow White was inspired by a Brother's Grimm tale. Research now shows that this story may have been true. If so, it's based on events that happened around the Lohr Castle in Germany. 

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Spessart Forest, Germany -

The Lohr Castle is surrounded by the Spessart Forest, where 'Snow White' would have run to escape her evil step-mother. 

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'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' -

It's even suggested that the dwarves she befriended and the glass coffin she slept in may have been real. Either way, the inspiration for the Disney movie is darker than you'd think! 

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