A narrow, stone staircase leads up from the dragon's lair beneath Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Paris and into another fanciful spot, the abode of Merlin the magician. There are plenty of dark and gloomy corners here, but there are also wonders to discover.
Merlin, especially as portrayed in Disney's 1963 animated feature The Sword in the Stone, is a wizard and a man of science who lives his life backward through time. As a result, not only did he know the exact time and place to expect Arthur to "drop in," but he also has quite the collection of anachronisms one would not typically expect to find in a medieval castle keep. (Again, apologies for the quality of the photos, as these were also from the day my regular camera gave out on me.)
From the model of the solar system to the telescope and flying machine, Merlin's chambers are packed with fascinating props and other details. Take note of the proliferation of owls in the decor, and see if you can spot Archimedes among them.
A bit of Merlin's story carries into the courtyard beyond the castle as well, in the form of the legendary sword Excalibur, planted firmly in a stone and anvil until such time as the one true king might come along with the fortitude to remove it.
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