The country with fairytale castles that inspired Disney’s biggest movies – and flights are just £19
THERE'S a country in Europe with fairytale castles that inspired Disney's biggest movies - and flights are just £19.
While this landlocked European country is known for being the birthplace of classical music, it's also famous for its stunning castles and palaces.
And in recent years, several buildings in Austria have inspired landscapes in Disney films - giving each palace a new lease of life.
Set in Austria, Hallstatt is a fairytale alpine town that was apparently the inspiration for the kingdom of Arendelle in the hit movie Frozen.
Nestled on the beautiful shores of Hallstätter Lake, and with the towering Dachstein mountains as a backdrop, the magical views are truly breathtaking.
But because of its links to the blockbuster film, the small Austrian village is besieged by thousands of tourists each day.
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In a bid to protect residents, wooden privacy screens have been built to deter visitors from taking selfies.
Despite the measures, day-trippers flock from nearby Salzburg to wander through Arendelle's real-life inspiration.
For those who want to be part of the Disney magic, the easiest way to reach Hallstatt is from the Austrian city of Salzburg.
Both British Airways and Ryanair operate direct routes from London to Salzburg with prices starting from £19.
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Hallstatt is just over a one-hour drive from Salzburg but the site can also be reached via a direct train too with journey times taking 2 hours and 30 minutes.
We've found return train tickets for £22.50 for a full-paying adult.
As well as wandering through the town's magical streets, there are several other attractions nearby including the Hallstatt Skywalk and the Salzwelten Hallstatt (a salt mine).
For those holidaymakers who want to stay overnight, there are a range of accommodation options dotted around the lake including B&B Haus Am See, which costs £107 per night based on two people sharing.
Hallstatt isn't the only place in Austria that's rumoured to be the inspiration behind a Disney movie.
In the south of the country, Hochosterwitz Castle is nestled inside a cliff face.
One of the country's most impressive medieval castles, it's rumored to have inspired the castle in Disney's Snow White.
The easiest way to reach Hochosterwitz castle is from Klagenfurt am Wörthersee - the capital city of the region.
Ryanair operates direct flights from London to Klagenfurt Airport, at a cost of £50 for a one-way ticket.
Hochosterwitz Castle is accessible via train from Klafugen with tickets costing £6.
Entry tickets cost €17 (£14.78) and include access to the indoor exhibitions, a collection of Renaissance art as well as the outdoor gates.
There's also a range of cultural programmes, concerts, and exhibitions held at the castle throughout the summer.
In recent years, holidaymakers have been raving about the fairytale castle on TripAdvisor.
One person wrote: "This magnificent Disney-esque castle is in a spectacular location perched on the top of a hill. It is clearly visible for miles around, looming over the whole area."
While Hallstatt and Hochosterwitz Castle require a bit of leg work to get to, Fortress Hohensalzburg lies in the heart of Salzburg.
Even though the Fortress hasn't inspired any other Disney films, it was been likened to one by visitors.
One person wrote on TripAdvisor: "It's like a Disney movie in real life."
And this castle is arguably the most accessible as it's situated in the centre of Salzburg's old town.
Visitors can either walk to the top of the hill or ride a 10-minute cable car to reach the entrance.
Entry tickets cost €10.80 (£9.39) and include access to the castle area, courtyards, bastions, chapel, a panorama tour as well as visits to the various museums.
Austria isn't the only European country that's home to fairytale castles.
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There's also a castle in Germany castle that was the inspiration for Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle.
And, here are some other cool castles you can stay in across the UK.
