Everyone is familiar with the scenery of the little town that Belle and her father, Maurice, hail from in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast but the inspiration had to come from somewhere. In this blog post, I’ll be giving you an insight of the different destinations that are said to have inspired the Beauty and the Beast Locations.

Alsace, France

Alsace is located is a region in France, the heart of Europe, with an abundance of architectural and cultural gems. It’s no surprise  that the film has links to this location with the similarities of the architecture and the lifestyle in general. Alsace stands apart from all other regions of France. The capital of Alsace, Strasbourg, is home to world renowned historical heritage sites, with the Grande Lle listed as UNESCO World Heritage. For information on visiting Alsace, visit the official website.

Riquewihr, France

Another location said to have inspired the film is the French town of Riquewihr. Known as ‘the Gem of the Alsace Vineyards’, the town features quaint half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets and structures which date back to the 13th century. There’s quite a fairytale feel to Riquewihr, which is probably a good reason as to why it served as inspiration for the Disney film. Find out more about the town here.

Chäteau de Chambord, Loir-et-Cher

This is the location which inspired the Beast’s Castle. Talking about the visit to the Chäteau de Chambord, animator Glen Keane said “It was an ominous, impressive place with all of these spires and just standing there before us. “I mean I’ll never forget the morning driving up there through the mist and fog and seeing it there. I thought, ‘This is the Beast’s castle. This is where he lives.'” It is one of the most recognisable châteaux in the world due to its distinctive French Renaissance architecture that blends traditional French medieval forms with classical Renaissance structures. For more information and to book a visit, check out the official website.

If you’re looking to visit some of the locations, Adventures by Disney are now taking bookings for a Beauty and the Beast inspired cruise on the Rhine River Cruise. A stop includes the village of Riquewihr Where you can enjoy an excursion and guided horseback ride followed by after dinner activities back on the cruise which includes On board screenings of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast or some Beauty and the Beast karaoke. Prices and dates can be found here.

Have you visited any of these locations? Where in particular would you love to put on your travel bucket list?

See more posts from Beauty and the Beast Week here

Jazz

Jazz is a Disney, tea and pop culture enthusiast with a passion for blogging. Also a proud introvert.