The Incredible Real-Life Locations That Inspired Your Favorite Disney Movies

The sultan's palace from Disney's Aladdin draws inspiration from the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. Although this iconic landmark is actually a tomb and not a palace, there's clearly a striking visual resemblance.

Does this castle look familiar? It should. The idea behind Eric's home in The Little Mermaid was taken from the Chateau de Chillon in Veytaux, Switzerland. Known for its idyllic spot along the coast of Lake Geneva, the chateau claims some very famous visitors — among them, author Lord Byron.

Though this photo looks almost like a quaint German town, the idea for the small village in Beauty and the Beast was actually taken from Alsace, France.  The region is known for its brightly painted and steep-roofed houses. The only thing missing is the local baker bursting into song!

Speaking of Germany, the castle from Sleeping Beauty is almost an exact replica of the Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria. Built in 1892 by Ludwig II as a personal retreat for his favorite composer, Richard Wagner, the castle looks especially gorgeous in the winter months.

Rafiki's ancient tree in Disney's The Lion King is actually a Baobab. These strange-looking trees are native to the African and Indian savannas and can live up to a thousand years, making them some of the oldest trees on planet Earth.

The landscape for The Lion King was also inspired by the peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest freestanding mountain in the world. With elevations up to 20,000 feet, it's one of the planet's most accessible summits.

Influenced by the swingin' music and bright lights of New Orleans, The Princess and the Frog took great pride in paying homage to an American city with a rich and varied cultural landscape.

This celebratory scene from the Disney classic Mulan takes place in the Imperial City in Beijing, China. The city itself is a collection of gardens and shrines, surrounded by a towering wall and accessed through six sturdy gates.

What inspired the rolling hills made famous in Disney's Brave? Look no further than the Scottish isles. Merida's home, however, is modeled after the famed Dunnottar Castle — a beautiful medieval fortress surrounded by sheer cliffs. The castle itself dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries and has quite the storied history.

If you've ever seen Up, you know the characters go on a real epic trip. One of the amazing sights they float by is this gorgeous waterfall, an almost exact replica of Angel Falls: the highest waterfall in the world. Located in Venezuela, Angel Falls is actually 15 times higher than Niagara.

We followed our fish friends from Finding Nemo as they swam all the way to Sydney Harbor, Australia. Known for its Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge, this body of water sets the stage for one of Disney's more recent classics.

Remember this scene from Wreck-It Ralph? If you've ever walked through Grand Central Terminal, it may look a bit familiar. Located in midtown Manhattan, Grand Central sees almost 200,000 NYC commuters every day, making it one of the world's busiest train stations.

The epic castle from Disney's Tangled is a carbon copy of the Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy, France. The royal palace is a huge tourist destination. Built between the 11th and 16th centuries, it boasts a Gothic-style Benedictine abbey and countless museums, hotels, and tourist boutiques.

Pacha’s village in Disney's The Emperor’s New Groove was directly inspired by Machu Picchu in Cusco, Peru. This mysterious Incan site in the mountains of Peru remained forgotten to the outside world until it was rediscovered in 1911.

The cathedral in The Hunchback of Notre Dame is, of course, the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The imposing cathedral is one of the most well-known examples of Gothic architecture in the world and took almost 200 years to finish. 

Which of these real-life locations would you want to travel to most? Let us know in the comments.

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