Fiction Meets Reality: Locations That Inspired Disney Movies

These spectacular locations inspired some of the greatest animated films by Disney, and in this gallery, you can actually compare the originals with their cartoon counterparts.

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© Photo : Walt Disney Pictures

The stone circle from Disney's Brave, inspired by Callanish Stones.

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© Flickr / Colin Macdonald

Callanish Stones, Scotland.

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© Photo : Walt Disney Pictures

Rapunzel's Castle from Disney's Tangled, inspired by Mont Saint Michel.

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© Flickr / Jesper Krogh

Mont Saint Michel, France.

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© Photo : Walt Disney Pictures

The Sultan's Palace from Disney's Alladin, inspired by the Taj Mahal.

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© Flickr / Nathan Jones

Taj Mahal, India.

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© Photo : Walt Disney Pictures

Paradise Falls from Disney's animated film Up, inspired Angel Falls

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© Flickr / ENT108

Angel Falls / Salto Angel

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© Photo : Walt Disney Pictures

Notre Dame de Paris cathedral as portrayed in The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Disney.

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© AFP 2023 / LIONEL BONAVENTURE

Notre Dame de Paris cathedral, France.

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© Photo : Walt Disney Pictures

Prince Eric's seaside castle from Disney's Little Mermaid, reportedly based on the Château de Chillon.

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© Photo : Wikipedia/Eric Hill

Château de Chillon, Switzerland.

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© Photo : Walt Disney Pictures

The castle from the Disney's Sleeping Beauty, inspired by Neuschwanstein Castle.

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© Flickr / Rob Faulkner

Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany.

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© Photo : Walt Disney Pictures

Mount Kilimanjaro as portrayed in The Lion King by Disney.

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© Flickr / mitchpa1984

Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.