The castles at the center of the stateside Disney Parks were architecturally based on real castles found in Europe. For Disneyland Paris, it was felt that approach would have been too familiar and not served the purpose of transporting Guests to a fantasy world. Instead, the Imagineering designers combined the French inspiration of Mont Saint Michel's spiraling hilltop with elements straight out of Sleeping Beauty to create a fairytale castle like no other.
The hill leading up to the castle is dotted with rectangular trees like those seen in Eyvind Earle's incredible background paintings for Disney's 1959 animated classic. The fantasy look is further enhanced by the castle's pink hue and brilliant blue, glazed tile turrets.
Even in close-ups, le Chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty's Castle) is spectacular. From the stonework and landscaping to the myriad nooks, crannies and pathways leading into and around the castle, there's a wealth of detail to discover.
The further up you go on the castle walls, the more elaborate and fantastic it all becomes. Each tower of the castle is capped with a copper finial or weather vane. Every one of them is unique, crafted by a pair of French artisans using old world techniques and carefully covered in gold leaf. The golden towers of the castle were originally suggested by illustrations found in the medieval book Les Très Riches Heures de Duc de Berry, and they provide a finishing touch to Sleeping Beauty Castle in Paris that renders it the most beautiful Disney castle in the world.
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